A coffee shop owner said that he wanted to solve hangovers rather than serve them when he addressed a council licensing panel hearing. Fika director Elliott Chandler-Gordon, 41, made the comments as he set out the case for a drinks licence at the business’s new premises, in Victoria Grove, Second Avenue, Hove. Two neighbours objected to the application so it went before a panel made up of three members of Brighton and Hove City Council – Julie Cattell, Paul Nann and Alison Thomson.
At the hearing on Friday Mr Chandler-Gordon said that Fika had no plans to create an alcohol-led venue at the former art gallery site. The proposed licensed hours would be from 9am to 9pm daily, with the business opening from 7am. Mr Chandler-Gordon agreed draft licensing conditions with Sussex Police which would require customers to be seated and served drinks at their table.
READ MORE: Plans for nail bar and café in Brighton approved by council Neither of the neighbours who objected to the application attended the hearing but their written comments raised concerns about a second venue serving alcohol in the road. Mr Chandler-Gordon said that he had contacted both neighbours and invited them to discuss their concerns but they did not respond. He said: “Our approach to the business was never to open somewhere there would be disruption to the neighbourhood.
“We just want somewhere where people can come after work, have a coffee and have an alcoholic drink available. Rather than being a bar.