The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a premises licence for Café Lounge, located at 94 Mount Pleasant Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells. The licence permits the sale of alcohol from 10 am to 8:30 pm daily, with the premises open to the public from 8 am to 9 pm. This decision followed consideration of an application that received objections from local residents concerned about potential noise and public nuisance.

Café Lounge Premises Licence Application

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a premises licence for Café Lounge at 94 Mount Pleasant Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells. The application sought authorisation for the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises daily from 10 am to 9:30 pm, with the premises open to the public from 8 am to 10 pm.

During the public consultation period, two representations were received from interested parties, both objecting on the grounds of public nuisance. Suresh Sridharan, a resident living above the premises, expressed concerns about increased noise from alcohol consumption, longer customer stays, noise transmission through the building, and disturbance from customers congregating outside. Gareth Challingsworth, owner of the flats above, echoed these concerns, highlighting the intensification of activity compared to the previous retail use and the potential for noise from customer activity, bottle disposal, and external congregation. Both objectors requested earlier cessation of alcohol sales and closing hours, restrictions on external seating, no amplified music, and limitations on refuse collection and deliveries during sensitive hours.

The applicant, represented by Enis Sasmaz and Savash Sasmaz, responded to these concerns. They proposed amending the application to cease alcohol sales at 8:30 pm daily, with the premises closing at 9 pm. They also committed to only allowing low-level background music, restricting bottle disposal, waste handling, deliveries, and similar activities to normal opening hours, and implementing active management to prevent disturbance outside the premises. Furthermore, the applicant highlighted that they had already undertaken acoustic insulation works, including soundproofing to the ceiling and side walls, at a significant cost, to reduce noise transmission. A Noise Management Plan was also submitted, detailing measures to minimise noise and manage customer behaviour. The applicant emphasised that Café Lounge is a family-run business and not an alcohol-led venue, with alcohol sales intended to be ancillary to the primary café and restaurant use. They provided sales data from their other premises, indicating low alcohol sales volumes.

After considering the application, the representations, and the applicant's responses and proposed amendments, the Sub-Committee, with advice from their legal advisor, decided to grant the application. The licence was granted as applied for and amended, permitting alcohol sales from 10 am to 8:30 pm, seven days a week, with the premises open from 8 am to 9 pm. The decision included all conditions offered by the applicant, plus conditions 5 to 9 from the Noise Management Plan. All parties involved will receive a written decision detailing the reasons and information on how to appeal.