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Father David Barnes with members of his congregation and others who objected to the scheme at Camden Town Hall |
‘Take a walk!’ Deli booze plan next to church is thrown out
10-pin bowling entrepreneur’s bid to sell alcohol is rejected at fiery meeting
A BOWLING entrepreneur’s plan to open a “deli” serving alcohol next to a church has been rejected at an explosive Town Hall licensing meeting.
Jonathan Dalton, the man behind the popular Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes in the basement of the Tavistock Hotel, insisted objectors to his proposals had failed to understand what he was trying to do at the Fleet River Deli in Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
But after an unholy row, the flock of the 100-year-old St Anselm and St Cecilia church went home happy from the meeting on Wednesday night.
The heated session, held in a tiny Camden Town Hall room that struggled to accommodate more than 50 objectors, saw both sides reach boiling point in a clash over a shared wall between the church and Mr Dalton’s new venue.
The businessman bought the former solicitors’ office in August and submitted an application to serve alcohol seven days a week.
But his bid to charm his customers with organic wines and a Devon cider from 11am until 10pm Monday to Wednesday, and until 10.30pm from Thursday to Saturday, was thrown out.
Pensioners who attended the meeting shouted “take a walk” and “why don’t you just sell bread?” in Mr Dalton’s direction.
Earlier in the meeting he had set out his vision for the deli as a 1930s-style French bakery that served coffee in the day, drinks and tapas at night and made its own bread and croissants.
“There are thousands of people who live and work in the area who would welcome our café” said Mr Dalton.
As a “comforter” he offered to turn off his radio for the first six months and close the venue on Sundays.
He said he would fill the wall with insulation to minimise noise pollution.
Thousands of pounds worth of CCTV has also been installed in the street.
But Father David Barnes and other objectors, including a nearby primary school and ward councillor Julian Fulbrook, rounded on his plans and said it would be “hell” to live with.
Cllr Fulbrook called the application “inconceivable” next door to a place which demanded peace.
Fr Barnes’s appeal drew applause from the audience as he warned the conjoined buildings were like “Siamese twins” that would carry any noise and ruin prayer group meetings.
Panel chairman Councillor Jonathan Simpson told Mr Dalton to go back to the drawing board and come up with conditions that would help his business fit in with such a “sensitive” area.
He added: “I think the applicant should go away and consult with his neighbours.” |
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