The Licensing Act Sub Committee of Cornwall Council was scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence for Ten Ten Coffee. The meeting's agenda also included the election of a chairman, apologies for absence, and declarations of interest.

Application for Premises Licence: Ten Ten Coffee

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for a premises licence for Ten Ten Coffee, located at 79A Charlestown Road, Charlestown, St Austell, Cornwall, PL25 3NL. The application, made under the Licensing Act 2003, sought permission to supply alcohol.

The report pack indicated that the application had generated three representations from other persons, specifically Charlestown Parish Council, Councillor James Mustoe, and Richard Hallows. These representations raised concerns primarily related to the prevention of public nuisance and, to a lesser extent, public safety.

Key points of contention included:

• Operating Hours: Concerns were raised that the requested operating hours for alcohol sales (initially proposed as 12:00 – 22:00 Monday to Saturday and 12:00 – 21:00 on Sundays, later amended to 08:00 – 19:30 Monday to Saturday and 09:00 – 16:30 on Sundays) extended beyond the applicant's lease agreement for the premises, which stipulated coffee shop hours of 09:00 to 20:00. There was a specific concern that the application could allow for trading until 22:00, which was seen as inappropriate for a residential area.
• Ancillary Alcohol Sales: While the applicant, Megan Clark, stated that alcohol would be an ancillary offer to the main café use and not an alcohol-led premise, representations highlighted concerns about the potential for increased noise and public disorder, particularly with an outdoor seating area.
• Off-Sales: The initial application included off-sales, which was a point of concern for the parish council. The applicant later agreed to remove this aspect of the application.
• Public Nuisance: Representations from Charlestown Parish Council and Richard Hallows emphasised the premises' location within a residential area, separate from other licensed premises in Charlestown. Concerns were voiced about potential noise and disturbance from customers, especially during evenings and from the outdoor seating area.
• Public Safety: Richard Hallows raised concerns about the safety of the outdoor seating area, its proximity to the highway, and the lack of adequate sanitary facilities for a premises selling alcohol for extended hours.
• Communication and Consultation: Some representations noted that many local residents were not made aware of the application, with notices only being displayed inside the coffee shop.

The applicant, Megan Clark, responded to these concerns, apologising for the oversight in the initial application's proposed hours and agreeing to amend them to align with her lease. She also offered to proceed with an on-licence application only, removing the off-sales. She stated her intention was to offer occasional early evening events, such as monthly wine and cheese evenings, rather than operating as a bar.

The report pack also included numerous emails of support from local residents and customers, who described Ten Ten Coffee as a well-run, welcoming community hub that would benefit from the addition of an alcohol licence for occasional evening events. They expressed confidence that the business would continue to operate responsibly and not create a disruptive environment.

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider the application in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, taking into account the representations received and the applicant's responses, with the aim of determining whether the licence should be granted, with or without conditions, or refused. The report recommended that the Sub-Committee determine the application following a hearing.