A café in Wargrave has submitted a licensing application to serve alcohol and provide online sales during its agreed opening hours, prompting a mixed response from residents. 

Hatchgate Holdings submitted the application on behalf of H’Artisan, which has been located at 69-71 High Street since early 2021. 

The company is looking to sell alcohol between 9am and 7pm Monday to Friday, as well as 9am to 6pm on Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sunday – for consumption both on and off premises. 

As well as offering alcoholic beverages on site, the café also wants to expand to provide online sales for both collection and delivery. 

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The plan was heard by Wokingham Borough Council’s licensing and appeals sub-committee on Friday, with the submission receiving many comments from residents. 

There were 36 statements of support against the proposal, with some outlining the “huge benefit” the café has been to the local community.  

Minny Miller said the premises have been an “absolute joy” and provide a “wonderful” place for people to meet. She expressed support for the outlet to serve a glass of wine or beer to the villagers. 

It also received support from former PM and MP for Maidenhead Theresa May, who said she would be “grateful” if the council looked “comprehensively” into the application. 

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“I am sure you will agree that despite the difficulties of the past few years, it is good to see local businesses are continuing to thrive,” she added. 

Others have called the request “neither necessary nor appropriate”, citing the fact that the premises are frequented by children, and fear the granting of a license will help facilitate later opening times. 

Stephen Porter, in one of sixteen comments objecting to the proposal, said the owner shows “scant regard” for planning controls and accused them of “operating outside their permitted hours”. 

H’Artisan has also recently obtained the Greyhound Inn, a pub also situated on the High Street, causing some residents to query the desire to sell alcohol from two venues in such close proximity. 

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Annie and James Paddison said: “As H’Artisan have just acquired the Greyhound, they obviously have a license there and have no need to be granted a second one within 50 yards when it will cause such upset.” 

Chris Mitchener of Licensing Solutions, who was responsible for submitting the application on behalf of Hatchgate Holdings, called the submission “singularly the most benign application” that he has made. 

“Nothing relevant to the licensing objectives has been raised […] if we cut through it and only take account of what is relevant […] there is nothing there that is tangible or sufficient, in my view, to refuse this application,” Mr Mitchener concluded. 

The sub-committee will now deliberate on the application before making a decision within five working days.