Village Café's Alcohol Bid Sparks Neighbour Backlash

An award‑winning café in Arborfield Green has sparked a row after applying to sell alcohol.

The Stables Cafe opened in 2023 on Bridle Road and won a Muddy Stilettos Best Cafe in Berkshire award in 2024. Owner Paul Scarrott asked Wokingham Borough Council for permission to sell alcohol, and the application drew 10 objections from neighbours.

Residents said off‑sales could change the family‑friendly feel around Farley Hill Primary School and let people drink in nearby public spaces.

Esther Cheung said: "Unlike alcohol consumed inside licensed premises under staff supervision, alcohol sold for consumption elsewhere cannot be controlled once it leaves the premises.

"Granting off-sales creates a foreseeable risk that alcohol could be consumed in the surrounding public open spaces, including the grassed area immediately outside the café where children regularly play.

"This would increase the likelihood of children being exposed to intoxicated behaviour, inappropriate language, litter, discarded bottles or cans and potentially broken glass in an area specifically used by families."

Hsin-Ta Wu added: "Arborfield Green is a quiet, family-oriented residential community, not a commercial high street.

"Introducing alcohol sales here raises serious concerns regarding public safety.

"Visitors driving to the café to consume alcohol increase the inherent risk of drink-driving within a neighbourhood where families, pedestrians, and children are frequently walking.

"Offering ‘off-sales’ in a residential area often encourages the consumption of alcohol in nearby public spaces or parks.

"This is likely to lead to increased noise levels in the evenings, potential anti-social behaviour, and littering (such as discarded glass bottles and cans).

"A closing time of 9pm every night is unsuitable for a peaceful residential neighbourhood and will disturb the quiet enjoyment of our homes."

The council's licensing committee held a meeting to decide the application. Nick Semper, from the Licensing Guys, representing the café, defended the bid.

Mr Semper said: "The Stables Cafe is a charming, established and successful cafe bistro inspired by the business owner’s experience as a barista in Australia.

"Designed to create a friendly, welcoming and relaxing community feel, Stables Cafe is the ideal place for customers to take time out and escape the busyness of their life to savour exceptional coffees, complemented by a tempting menu of dishes all sourced from fresh and locally sourced produce.

"This modest application is to enable the business to build on its existing success and enhance its offering with the inclusion of a range of alcohol to complement the hot and cold drinks menus."

He said the café is food‑led, that litter and anti‑social behaviour would not be tolerated, and argued off‑sales are hard to control anywhere. The application said alcoholic drinks would be sold between 10am to 8.30pm.

One neighbour, Mr Chui, who previously lived above the café, complained about parking and a Christmas event. Addressing Mr Scarrott, he said: "He never respects the community, he only knows how to earn the money!"

The decision was made by councillors Pauline Jorgensen (Conservative, Hillside), Jackie Rance (Conservative, Shinfield) and Chris Cooke (Liberal Democrats, Wescott) following the meeting on August 3.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter