Agenda item - Intenso Espresso Bar - Licensing Panel (Licensing Act 2003 Functions)

1.    The Licensing Officer introduced the application to the panel.

2.    The agent acting on behalf of the applicant stated that the applicant had discussions with Sussex Police and the licensing authority before submitting the application. The premises would be a food led café/restaurant with an extension of hours into the evenings. This is not to be a drink led service. It proposed that the venue will be table service only, with no vertical drinking or off sales. Notices requiring customers to leave the premises quietly and the refusals policy will be displayed. The outside seating area is existing. The applicant, a family run business, wants to operate responsibly whilst protecting the licensing objectives.

3.    Answers to panel Members questions included:

·       There was a total of 30 tables, with 10/12 outside.

·       Tapas style small plates would be the food served.

·       There would be no off sales and no delivery serves.

·       The outside seating is not planned at the moment, when the premises is a restaurant there will be more control, with the mornings being free for gatherings and the late afternoon/evenings being more controlled.

·       It was noted that there are parking issues outside the premises on Portland and Hogarth Roads.

·       The applicant was open to alternative opening hours to those submitted in the application – 12.30 to 22.00, with a close of 21.00 for the outside seating area.

Summing Up

4.    Emily Fountain summed up for the licensing team.

5.    Derya y Teke summed up as the agent acting on behalf of the applicant.

6.    Simon Court stated that no noise complaints had been followed up by the residents and that the panel will now retire to discuss the application.