Alcohol licence for new restaurant at Wirral Sailing Centre

After considering some complaints from local residents, Wirral Council's Licensing Panel granted a licence for a new cafe/restaurant at Wirral Sailing Centre in West Kirby.

Alcohol can be served between 12pm and 10.30pm every day and the premises will be allowed to open between 8am and 11pm.

Speaking at the panel meeting, Alan Wright, hospitality manager for the venue, said the premises would function as a cafe until 5pm and a restaurant after that, with the key strength of "beautiful" views of the River Dee.

Mr Wright said food from local butchers will be used, as well as locally sourced fruit, vegetables and gin.

He also said there will not be a 'vertical drinking' model, where revenues are generated from selling large amounts of alcohol, at the premises, and drunk and disorderly behaviour will not be tolerated.

However, given the upmarket nature of the venue Mr Wright did not think this would be a problem.

He added that he was proud of the site his cafe/restaurant would be based at, calling it "fantastic".

Concluding his remarks, Mr Wright said he wanted to make the venue something for the people of West Kirby to be proud of.

There were four representations relating to the proposal from local residents, these included concerns about possible anti-social behaviour.

Local resident Andrew Hodgson said he hoped a third or more of the first floor would be preserved for the sailing centre.

Mr Wright said he wanted the centre to have a space on the large first floor and that it was a firm part of his plans.

In making its decision, the panel, made up of three Wirral councillors, gave consideration to the business model Mr Wright set out and his willingness to have conditions attached to the licence to reduce any public nuisance the cafe/restaurant might cause.

The panel also acknowledged the applicant’s agreement to conditions recommended by Merseyside Police, including closing the balcony by 9pm.