The Licensing Sub-Committee of Tunbridge Wells Council met on Monday 02 March 2026 to consider an application for a street trading consent for a mobile coffee trailer. The committee decided to grant the consent for a limited period of 14 days, subject to the applicant clarifying planning permission requirements.

Street Trading Application for Kimono Coffee

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application from Nicola Roberts, trading as Kimono Coffee, for a street trading consent to operate a mobile coffee and refreshment trailer outside The Range store on Vale Road, Tunbridge Wells. The application was for the period of 04 March 2026 to 31 March 2026.

Sharon Degiorgio, Senior Licensing Officer, presented the report, outlining that Vale Road is designated as a 'consent' street, meaning a consent is required for street trading. She noted that an initial consent had been granted to Kimono Coffee from 12 January to 30 January 2026, during which time the nearby railway station coffee shop was closed for refurbishment.

Concerns had been raised by an established business in the vicinity, which cited potential commercial impact and competition. Additionally, Environmental Health had received a noise complaint regarding the applicant's generator.

Nicola Roberts, the applicant, addressed the subcommittee, stating that Kimono Coffee offers a low-volume, takeaway-only service with distinct artisan products, differentiating it from the indoor, seated, high-capacity model of the station café. She argued that competition is not a valid ground for refusal under the council's street trading policy, which should focus on public safety, obstruction, nuisance, and the character of the area. Ms. Roberts highlighted that Tunbridge Wells has a high density of cafes and that her trailer provides additional choice and vibrancy to the area, which she described as previously wholly underused. She also noted that the station café had applied for an alcohol licence, changing its operational nature.

Councillor David Hayward questioned the applicant about targeting commuters with a 6 am opening, to which Ms. Roberts responded that while there would be crossover, no single café could meet the demand, particularly during peak hours. Councillor Matt Lowe, Cabinet Member for Planning, inquired about the differentiation of the offering, and Ms. Roberts explained their focus on artisan coffee and homemade cakes and pastries, which she stated the station café does not offer.

The applicant confirmed that she was aware of the council's policy to grant consent for a maximum of 104 days per calendar year and that planning permission would be required for a more permanent pitch. She stated that she had only recently become aware of the need to engage with the planning department and intended to do so.

The subcommittee, with legal advice from Helen Ward, Senior Lawyer, deliberated on the application. They decided to GRANT the application for a street trading consent from 4 March to 31 March 2026, but subject to a condition that it could only be used for a maximum of 14 days in March 2026. This condition was imposed to ensure compliance with the council's policy, which requires planning permission for trading beyond 28 days per calendar year. The subcommittee stated that the applicant would need to clarify the situation regarding planning permission before applying for any further street trading consent. They acknowledged the commercial issues raised but considered the impact to be limited due to the short duration of the consent. The noise complaint was noted, but as it was an isolated incident with no further information, it did not prevent the grant of consent. The decision was detailed in a Notice of Determination, which forms an addition to the minutes.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Jayne Sharratt, with Councillor David Hayward and Councillor Matt Lowe also in attendance. Sharon Degiorgio, Senior Licensing Officer, presented the report, and Julie Reynolds acted as Clerk. Trevor Horner, Licensing Officer, and Helen Ward, Legal Advisor, were also present.