Brighton & Hove City Council
Licensing Panel (Licensing Act 2003 Functions)
1.00pm20 March 2026
Virtual
MINUTES
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Present: Councillors: Lyons, Nann and Parrott
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Officers: Rebecca Siddell, Emily Fountain and Shaun Hughes
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PART ONE
1 To appoint a Chair for the Meeting
Councillor Lyons was appointed Chair for the meeting.
2 Procedural Business
2a Declaration of Substitutes
There were none.
2b Declarations of Interest
There were none.
2c Exclusion of the Press and Public
In accordance with section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 (‘the Act’), the Licensing Panel considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during an item of business on the grounds that it was likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press or public were present during that item, there would be disclosure to them of confidential information (as defined in section 100A(3) of the Act) or exempt information (as defined in section 100I of the Act).
RESOLVED - That the press and public would not be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any of the items.
3 Madame Jennifer Distillery Licensing Panel (Licensing Act 2003 Functions)
3.1 The licensing officer introduced the application to the panel.
3.2 There were no questions from the panel or attending residents.
Resident Presentations
3.3 Fynn Hudson-Prentice (resident) expressed concerns regarding noise in the evening and late at night. Traffic was also a concern.
3.4 Julian Burrows (resident) expressed concerns regarding the current parking issues, the possibility of development alongside the application site and any outside drinking.
Answers to Panel Member questions
3.5 The panel members were informed by residents that there was no noise disturbance at present or contact with the applicant by the residents. The development referred to by residents was the conversion of commercial units to residential.
Applicants Presentation
3.6 The applicant addressed the panel and stated that they established the business in 2017 and had been running tours since 2022 and no complaints had been received. The applicant wished to expand the business to include over independent distiller’s products. All tours were escorted, inside the unit and not in the car park. This was not a bar style premises. The site had other units being used which emitted noise. Tour cost was £30 and the average age tended to be senior.
Answers to Panel Member Questions
3.7 The panel were informed by the applicant that the alcohol was sold through a website, wine merchants, markets stalls and gin festivals. The website, Instagram and Facebook were used for advertising. There are no Hen or Stag events. Own products only are sold on the tours currently. The current cost of a bottle is £30. The two owners are on onsite, with one employee. The site was not owned by the applicant. The tour offered a 50ml glass of gin, plus some smaller tasters. Currently there were two tours on a Friday and two on a Saturday. The tours were seen as a marketing tool.
Answers to residents Questions
3.8 The residents were informed that there was no ambition to have large groups as the applicant was conscious of neighbours. It was noted that the current licence allows events till 21.30 and no complaints have been received. It was noted that the unit windows do not face Westbourne Road. The applicant was open to limiting the number of tours to reassure residents. The external advertising signage have only been used for ‘cellar door sales’ and are rarely used.
Summaries
3.9 The Licensing officer summarised the application.
3.10 No further comments were received from the residents.
3.11 The applicant reassured the panel and residents that it was only minor variation to the existing licence. The conditions are already strict, with nothing outside.
3.12 The legal officer noted that the applicant was willing to limit the tours.
3.13 The public meeting ended and the panel retired to decide the application.
The meeting concluded at 2.07pm
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Signed
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Chair |
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