A gin producer has proposed restricting the number of visitor experiences and tasting sessions following opposition from local residents to her application for a later operating licence due to worries about potential disturbance.
Inger Smith, aged 52 and part-owner of Madame Jennifer Distillery in Hove, presented this proposal during a Brighton and Hove City Council licensing sub-committee meeting on Friday 20 March.
Residents living nearby expressed concerns about noise levels from guests as the committee reviewed a request to extend trading hours until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays and until 9.30pm on Sundays.
The distillery operates from premises within Poets Corner House on Montgomery Street and is currently permitted only to sell or provide samples of its own spirits. However, Ms Smith and her partner Ian Curtis, 51, wish to provide tastings from other independent producers across Sussex.
At the hearing, nearby resident Fynn Hudson-Prentice explained he typically goes to sleep early because of his work as a professional cricketer with Sussex.
Mr Hudson-Prentice indicated his primary worry was additional noise from individuals travelling to and from the premises and possibly increased vehicle movement in the area.
He mentioned that his bedroom faces the location of the distillery, which would mean his evenings would experience considerably more disturbance with substantial noise in the vicinity. More visitors combined with greater alcohol consumption typically results in people failing to maintain quiet behaviour when departing the site.
Another local resident, Julian Burrows, noted that the shutters generate sound, and construction work on two dwellings on an adjacent site to Poets Corner House would eliminate parking facilities.
Mr Burrows questioned whether the distillery would convert the parking zone into an outdoor drinking space. With the proposed times of 9.30pm and 10pm, activities involving alcohol would occur and certain individuals lack restraint.
Ms Smith responded that any alcohol consumption would occur within the building, which houses seven separate businesses, and the car park bears no connection to her operation.
During guided visits and sampling events, which would be restricted to groups of ten with advance booking, patrons would consume roughly 50 millilitres of gin or the equivalent of two alcohol units.
She stated that Madame Jennifer Distillery commenced operations in 2017 and has provided visitor experiences for the past six years.
Ms Smith explained that the adjusted timings would simply provide more convenience since they conduct sales both at and away from the premises. Customers can visit to purchase a bottle of gin if they give prior notice, and they generally arrange tours on Fridays and Saturdays. There are no intentions to operate a bar-type establishment, with everything managed through advance booking on their website.
Her aim was to provide tastings from other independent producers to give previous tour visitors a reason to return.
The licensing sub-committee consisted of three elected members, Ivan Lyons, Paul Nann and Sam Parrott. They adjourned to reach their verdict, which must be published within five working days.