A mini market in Nottingham city centre has been allowed to sell alcohol and refreshments late into the night, despite a neighbouring business fearing it could become “a magnet for people who are problem drinkers”.
Town Mini Market, on Derby Road, can now sell late-night refreshments from Sunday to Thursday between 11 p.m. and midnight, and from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Its opening hours – during which it can sell alcohol – have been set between 8 a.m. and midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The business had been hoping to open even later, but negotiations with Nottinghamshire Police resulted in a reduction to help prevent crime and disorder.
However, the plans have drawn criticism from a neighbouring outdoor furnishings business, The Worm That Turned.
Stuart Isbister, managing director, said at a licensing meeting on Wednesday (January 28): “One of my fears is this will attract problem drinkers.
“We have considerable experience of this area from observation. Whilst I would hate to portray this area as Sodom and Gomorrah – which it is certainly not – we’ve been very instrumental over the years in trying to, with the council and other officers, develop and revitalise the area.
“Regrettably, we have noticed over the years a level of anti-social behaviour of all sorts that frequently occurs. I accept this is not the responsibility of any one retailer, but it is my intention that this would merely feed into it and exacerbate the issue.
“This will provide a magnet for people who are problem drinkers.”
Nick Landells, a solicitor acting on behalf of the applicant, said the hours have been reduced after consultation with the police, while a number of other conditions have been imposed.
“There are strong, enforceable conditions relating to crime and disorder for things like CCTV; there are good practice conditions ensuring that nobody will sell alcohol before they are trained; there are conditions aimed at crime reduction,” he said.
“So all of the higher-value items or stronger alcohol products will be behind the counter, as one would expect. Also, as agreed with the police, no alcohol will be displayed within 1.5 metres of the entrance.
“My client is an established retailer. This is his first foray into what will be a general shop, convenience store, or corner shop. The sale of alcohol or alcohol products will be part of the business, as would every other product you would expect to see in a corner shop.
“We’ve requested permission for late-night refreshment so that, if they wish to have a coffee machine, that would be permitted; if they wish to have hot food, that would be permitted. This won’t be a hot food takeaway, but if we want to have pies and a microwave, then late-night refreshment would be required.”
Mr Landells said that, when requested or appropriate, door security will be employed by the business to help further prevent any anti-social behaviour or crime-related problems.
Another condition was considered for staff at Town Mini Market to sweep Mr Isbister’s shop front – owing to his concerns over littering – but this was not deemed necessary.
Cllr Carole McCulloch (Lab), chair of the licensing panel, added: “The panel would also recommend that if Mr Isbister and his staff witness anti-social behaviour – whether arising from these premises or elsewhere in the general vicinity – they report it to the police or neighbourhood services so that it may be addressed.”
