Café Wins Alcohol Licence Amid Neighbour Objections

Award-winning café The Stables Speciality Coffee Co at Arborfield Green has been given permission to sell alcohol despite neighbours' objections.

Opened in December 2023 by Paul Scarrott and Denise Moore to bring an Australian coffee vibe, the café later won the Muddy Stilettos Award for Best Cafe in Berkshire.

Mr Scarrott applied to Wokingham Borough Council to sell alcohol for drink-in and takeaway from 8am to 9pm daily. Ten neighbours objected, citing noise, street drinking and the effect on children who play nearby.

Esther Cheung warned: "The introduction of alcohol sales at this location would fundamentally change the nature of the area."

Kirsty Hall added: "I am also concerned that granting an alcohol licence could fundamentally change the nature of the premises and encourage it to become more of an evening social venue rather than a daytime café. This would be out of keeping with the residential character of the surrounding neighbourhood and could lead to increased anti-social behaviour, litter, and disturbance."

During the licensing meeting Eunice Chau said: "As residents, we put our whole life investments into buying a house, we want a peaceful lifestyle. There is a contradiction: you want to earn your money, but as a resident I want my peaceful life afterwards."

Another neighbour, Mr Chui, complained about customers taking his parking space and using residents' waste areas; Mr Scarrott said he had arranged weekly collections from Biffa.

On 3 August three councillors - Pauline Jorgensen (Conservative, Hillside), Jackie Rance (Conservative, Shinfield) and Chris Cooke (Liberal Democrats, Wescott) - voted to grant the licence as applied for.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter