‘Wine bar by stealth’ fears over Camden Passage licence bid
Published: 20th May, 2011
ANTI-booze campaigners are accusing a new delicatessen and coffee shop at Camden Passage in Islington of attempting to turn itself into a “wine bar by stealth”.
Members of Camden Passage Association and residents who live in the famous antiques shop parade plan to oppose an application by a new Viennese coffee house, which wants to extend the area where it can serve alcohol.
The shop, Kipferl, currently can serve booze only to people sitting down at the back of the premises. Now it wants to sell alcohol throughout the ground floor. An application will be heard at a town hall licensing committee meeting at 6pm on Thursday.
Objectors argue that the Passage already attracts noise and nuisance from drinkers spilling out of the area’s pubs and clubs.
Clive Jordan, a local resident, said that part of the original planning permission for the coffee shop was that it was a retail outlet.
“This is predominantly a shopping area,” he added. “I welcome the arrival of Kipferl as a new and unusual addition to the Passage but only provided it keeps the front half as a shop. Otherwise we will have a glorified wine bar and the kind of noise and anti-social behaviour often associated with that sort of business.”
In February, The Blow Bar, a hairdresser in the Passage, was given permission to sell alcohol to customers. Traders believe it is only a matter of time before an antiques shop applies to sell booze to its customers.