Crowthorne Cafe Faces Alcohol Sales Showdown

A showdown is looming after Stables Coffee Co applied to sell alcohol from its Buckler's Park Hub café in Crowthorne.

The award-winning café opened last August and is the company's second branch, after Arborfield in December 2023. It was named Best Café in Berkshire in May 2024.

Founder Paul Scarrott has already won permission to sell alcohol at the Arborfield café and has applied to Bracknell Forest Council to serve alcohol at Crowthorne from 10am to 11pm daily.

The council has received 35 objections from neighbours raising litter and drink-driving concerns, so the decision will go to a licensing panel.

Hana Waterhouse said: "The Stables already have a severe littering issue in the park and immediate surrounding areas to the cafe itself, which the cafe often say they keep on top of when us residents have complained about it - yet they don't.

"As a parent of a child who regularly uses the park, I believe the late licence and serving of alcohol will further encourage antisocial behaviour at the park, which is becoming enough of an issue that police are now having to patrol the area, it will also likely worsen the littering issue without proper maintenance.

"The risk to all of the children who are residents and use the play park is significantly increased.

"On top of this, the Hub does not have enough parking when people visit, and the sale of alcohol risks people leaving cars and further reducing these spaces, or worse - increases the chance of drink and dangerous driving through the estate and beyond."

The application also drew an objection from The Goodwood Crescent Residents Group, which represents dozens of neighbours near the hub. They said: "Residents are already experiencing ongoing issues with anti-social behaviour in and around the park and surrounding residential areas.

"Most recently, a large group of teenagers gathered in the park, causing a disturbance to local residents.

"During this incident, one teenager narrowly avoided serious injury after attempting to climb the outside of the 10-metre-high slide.

"The group is extremely concerned that the sale of alcohol at this location is likely to increase the risk of anti-social behaviour, public disorder, noise nuisance, littering, and other disturbances that would adversely affect those living nearby.

"The Hub is already advertising a pay-as-you-go bar for an event in October, despite the significant concerns that local residents have raised regarding the impact that alcohol sales may have on the local community."

Because of the objections, the application will be decided at a Bracknell Forest Council licensing panel meeting on August 27.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter