Chesterfield garden centre bistro given permission to sell alcohol

The Bistro at Dunston Hall Garden Centre was granted a premises licence by members of Chesterfield Borough Council’s licensing committee last week.

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Staff will be able to sell alcohol there daily from noon but not after 9pm, except on 12 occasions per year.

The applicant stated in their application form: “The restaurant is attached to a garden centre.

“It is set back off the road and is enclosed with a fence and gates.

“Alcohol will be served in a restaurant setting and provide an outside children’s play area with beer garden within the enclosed area.”

Two objection letters were received from the occupants of homes located near the site on Dunston Road.

One letter raised a number of concerns, including alcohol consumption leading to damage to parked vehicles and private property, loud shouting and fighting.

The applicant stated CCTV at the site would ‘address the prevention of crime’ and added: “Prominent, clear and legible notices will be displayed at the exit requesting the public to respect the needs of nearby residents and leave the premises and the area quietly.”

The second objection letter stated: “The garden centre is situated on a narrow road, B6050.

“Heading east from the garden centre there is series of blind bends.

“There are no pavements or street lighting on the stretch of road from the garden centre in either direction.

“Vehicles travel along the road frequently at speed taking no heed of potential pedestrians.

“Some customers from nearby new developing housing estates may be encouraged to walk to the bistro or will be tempted to walk home after having an alcoholic drink.

“This will present a significant risk of them being hit by a vehicle on this dangerous busy and narrow stretch of road.”

Councillors imposed conditions that ‘information be provided on the premises regarding local taxi provision’ and that ‘when leaving the premises customers be advised to leave safely and to take account of neighbouring residents’.

The Derbyshire Times asked Dunston Hall Garden Centre for further comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.

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