Agenda item

On resumption of the meeting, the Chair introduced the members of the Sub Committee and the officers to those present.

The meeting was a hearing under the Licensing Act 2003.

The Sub Committee’s legal advisor, Giles Salter, outlined the procedure for hearing the application.

The Sub Committee considered the application for the grant of a premises licence to allow the sale of alcohol to be consumed ON and OFF the premises at Combe Farm Shop, Hayne Farm, Gittisham, Honiton EX14 3PD.

The applicant, present and entitled to make representations, was represented by Justin Lascelles, Estate Manager, Combe Estate.

A representation had been received from Gittisham Parish Council.  The Parish Council had given notice that it would not attend or be represented at the meeting.

The Licensing Officer, Phillippa Norsworthy, presented the report which covered the following points:

·        The applicant had applied for the sale of alcohol to be consumed on and off the premises, with sales to be limited to the café and the courtyard area.

·        The premises was located in Gittisham, on the outskirts of Honiton and was a family run business.

·        The farm shop currently held a premises licence for off sales only, Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm and Sunday 9am to 12 midday.

·        The applicant advertised the application at the premises and in the local newspaper in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003.  During consultation the application received one representation from Gittisham Parish Council with concerns relating to possible public nuisance and to public safety towards persons leaving the premises at night after consuming alcohol.

·        A representation was received from the Devon and Cornwall Police Service to which the applicant came to an agreed position.

·        Since publication of the agenda an email was received on 7 July from the clerk of Gittisham Parish Council advising that after their Parish Council meeting on 6 July the parish council maintained its objection to the proposed extended hours for off sales but did not object to the extended hours for on sales.

There were no questions from members or from the applicant for the Licensing Officer.

The applicant, represented by Justin Lascelles (Combe Estate Manager) made the case for the application and highlighted the following points:

·        Combe Farm Shop and Café had been trading in its current form since 2020.

·        The shop was successful, but marginal and they were always trying to refresh the offer by doing everything possible to make the business more successful.

·        ‘Dine in’ evening events had been well received and successful.  The aim was to hold these two or three times a month, with up to 25 people at a time, providing seasonal offers.  This had previously occurred under a temporary event licence.

·        The current licence application was customer demand led.  The events had been and would be food led, not alcohol led.  It would allow flexibility.

·        An agreed position had been agreed with the Police whereby there would be a 30 minute drinking up period, with no alcohol being served prior to closure.

·        The farm shop was already well used and no additional on-site activity was anticipated during standard hours as a result of the application.

·        The applicant believed that the parish council’s ‘off sales’ objection was unfounded.  They would like the ability to sell alcohol to customers who had attended the onsite events.

·        Combe Farm Shop and Café employed four full time and three full time members of staff and offered a local shopping experience.

·        To date there had been no complaints/issues and the business was responding to customer feedback.

·        There was CCTV cover in place.

In response to questions from the Sub Committee the applicant stated that:

·        It was not envisaged that the ‘dine in’ events would be expanded to other events such as birthday parties.  The events were primarily designed to showcase the food produce on offer from the shop, rather than promoting the premises as a venue for hire.

·        The licence application was in response to events where people expected to be able to have alcohol with their meal, as the events were primarily held to showcase the products available in the shop.

·        The events would be pre-booked (maximum seating capacity was 25 in the café, with additional seating in the courtyard) in order to plan and make the events viable.

·        Depending on demand, it was anticipated that two or three events would be held per month.

·        Opening hours would only be extended when events were being held.

·        It was not viable to open full time as a restaurant and a pub was not envisaged.

·        The licensing application would give flexibility rather than having to keep applying for temporary event licenses.

In his closing statement the applicant highlighted that he did not feel that Gittisham Parish Council’s concerns about ‘off sales’ were realistic.  The range of alcohol on offer was limited and the price point was likely to be higher than other local establishments.

The Chair thanked everyone for attending and advised that the decision would be notified within five working days.