The council has granted permission for Stables Coffee Co to sell alcohol at its Buckler's Park branch in Crowthorne.
The second Stables opened last August at The Hub in Buckler's Park. The business began in December 2023 at Arborfield Green and its Arborfield site won a Muddy Stilettos Award for best cafe in Berkshire in May 2024.
After getting permission to sell alcohol at Arborfield in August, owner Paul Scarrott applied to do the same at Buckler's Park. The application drew 35 objections from neighbours worried about more activity and anti-social behaviour, so the decision went to a Bracknell Forest Council licensing meeting.
Nick Samper from the Licensing Guys, representing Stables, said: "This premises licence application has arisen directly out of feedback from our valued and loyal clientele who are regular customers and expressed a desire to be able to enjoy a glass of wine or a quality beer with their food."
"It's really as simple as that. And in all honesty, I do not believe that is unreasonable."
"This isn't ever going to be a nightclub, a vertical drinking establishment, a sports bar, or a JD Wetherspoons. It is what it is, a successful cafe bistro."
Objectors raised fears about litter and anti-social behaviour around the nearby Pioneer Play Park, and that events at The Hub could make things worse.
Emma Daines, a neighbour, said: "We're not really worried about the actual Stables Coffee premises area as a whole. We're worried about the outside area, and we are worried about the hub's events using the premises to be able to consume [alcohol] and promote that particular event."
Stephen Nichols warned that what started as a modest plan could become bigger during big Hub events. He said: "At the beginning they said they just want a wine and craft beer for people who want to come in and have a drink with their meals."
"Now it's people who can go to an event such as the bingo event and can wander in and out."
"So it won't just be people going for a coffee or a wine while the kids play in the playground opposite."
"It'll be for the hundreds of people who turn up for events like the drag bingo as well."
Councillor Jeffrey Allen, speaking in a personal capacity, suggested limiting alcohol sales to Stables' current opening hours of 10am to 4pm. He said: "Basically, I think the problem arises that if it then goes into 10:30pm-11pm at night, we're then running into the same period where we've got the antisocial behaviour, and that's just a bridge too far for the residents."
"They feel that it's too much basically."
Despite objections, the licence was granted as applied for at the licensing panel meeting on Thursday, August 27. The decision was made by Moira Gaw (Conservative, Winkfield & Warfield East), Janet Cochrane and Cath Thompson (both Labour, Hanworth).
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
