Norwich's 'smallest off-licence' set to move to shop after plans approved
The Beer Hatch has been trading from a former telephone box on Tombland
Last updated 22nd Sep 2023
A move for Norwich’s novel telephone box off-licence to a permanent shop has been given the go-ahead despite neighbour’s fears it will increase anti-social behaviour.
Norwich City Council has unanimously approved an alcohol licence for the Beer Hatch Bottle Shop in the former Philips Cameras shop on Wensum Street.
The owner, Saul Press, has been based out of a red telephone box on Tombland, a short distance from the new venue, for the last year.
At a licensing committee meeting on Wednesday two neighbours from Roaches Court, which is immediately next door to the new store, called for the application to be rejected.
They raised fears the shop will add to pre-existing issues with anti-social behaviour in the area, particularly people urinating next to their homes.
Paul Baum, from Roaches Court, said that urination “goes on and on” next to his window and he had given up contacting the police about the issue.
Mr Press offered to keep an eye on the courtyard area and to encourage people congregating there to move on and refuse service to anyone who ignored him.
He argued that his business was unlikely to add to the issues, with the focus being mainly on takeaway sales and artisanal craft beers that attracted a different audience from the one causing the issue.
He also offered to install a security camera facing the court entrance, but there were concerns that it would be an intrusion from some of the locals.
The application was unanimously approved by councillors, with committee chairman Ian Stutely saying they hope it might allow the area to be better managed than it is now.
He said: “We absolutely recognise that residents are having these issues and public urination is absolutely abhorrent to us.
“We hope that police resourcing can be addressed separately.
“We would like residents to consider the addition of a CCTV camera, that is entirely up to them.”