The Licensing Panel of West Oxfordshire Council met on Thursday 30 July 2026 to consider two applications for new premises licences. The panel granted a licence for The Duchess in Clanfield, subject to conditions, and also granted a licence for Budgens in Woodstock, with reduced hours for alcohol sales.

The Duchess, Clanfield

The panel considered an application for a new premises licence for The Duchess, located on Bampton Road, Clanfield, made by The Double Red Clanfield Limited. The application was for a licence to sell alcohol and provide late-night refreshment. Representations were received from local residents and ward councillors, primarily concerning potential public nuisance and noise.

The applicant's solicitor, Neil McCann, explained that the application had been amended following discussions with objectors. The request for late-night refreshment was withdrawn, and the condition regarding bona fide guests was limited to one guest per resident. Mr. McCann argued that the premises would not become a party house due to the high-end clientele expected and the business's reliance on good neighbourly relations and positive reviews. He also highlighted the existing planning permission for hotel accommodation and the fact that the foliage acting as a sound buffer would remain.

Representations from Sally Owen, a local resident, and Councillor Alaric Smith raised concerns about noise, particularly from the proposed orangery and garden area, and the difficulty in defining and policing bona fide guests. Councillor Smith drew on personal experience of noise issues from a pub that became a boutique hotel, leading to a prosecution for noise abatement.

The panel ultimately decided to grant the licence as per the operating schedule, with additional conditions. These included restricting the sale of alcohol to residents and one bona fide guest per resident, and a condition that no drinks would be permitted in outside areas after 11 pm. The panel noted the applicant's commitment to community relations and the council's powers to review the licence if necessary.

Budgens Store, Wincott Square, Woodstock

The panel also considered an application for a new premises licence for Budgens, located at Wincott Square, Woodstock, made by Shun Retail Store Limited. The application was for off-sales of alcohol from 6 am to 11 pm, seven days a week, and for the premises to be open during the same hours.

Representations were received from local residents, Woodstock Town Council, and other interested parties, primarily objecting to the proposed hours for alcohol sales and the potential for public nuisance, crime and disorder, and harm to children. Concerns were raised about the early morning and late-night availability of alcohol in a residential area, the proximity to playgrounds and a nursery, and the potential for increased traffic, noise, litter, and anti-social behaviour.

The applicant's representative, Naga Rajesh, stated that the business would rely on the local community and that measures such as staff training, CCTV, and an incident log would be implemented. He highlighted that the police and other responsible authorities had not objected to the application and that the proposed hours for alcohol sales were aligned with the store's planned opening hours, which already had planning permission. Jay Jeyaalan, the applicant, shared experience from another store in North Leigh where early opening hours were appreciated by customers for non-alcohol purchases.

The objectors, including Sharon Parnes, Karen Visser, and Bryn Jones, reiterated their concerns about the impact on the residential community, particularly regarding noise, litter, and the potential for anti-social behaviour. They argued that the proposed hours were excessive for the location and that the measures proposed by the applicant were insufficient.

After considering all representations, the panel decided to grant the licence. They welcomed the applicant's agreement to reduce the trading hours to 9 pm and supported the measures outlined in Section 18 of the application regarding age verification, CCTV, incident logs, and staff training. The panel acknowledged the concerns about litter and potential nuisance but noted that these were often planning matters. They emphasised that the licence could be reviewed if issues arose. The decision was to grant the licence as per the operating schedule, with the reduced hours and the conditions proposed in Annex A of the application, which included restrictions on alcohol sales to residents and bona fide guests, CCTV, an incident log, and no drinks permitted in outside areas after 11 pm.