Residents object to Yorkshire Coast tearoom Dotty's plan to serve alcohol

Dotty’s Tearooms in Staithes High Street wants to be able to expand its business in order to allow it to prosper in a post-pandemic world.

Applicant Trudie Ward is also looking to grow the existing music night and add other amenities to the business with alcohol being sold until 11pm.

The plans have not been met with universal approval in the village, however, with some residents registering their opposition with the council due to concerns that it will cause disruption to locals.

A meeting of Scarborough Council’s licensing sub-committee will now take place next Friday to determine if the application should be granted.

In its application the cafe states that it is opposite a pub, The Royal George, which also has outside seating for its patrons.

The application adds: “Under normal/non-covid circumstances we have 35 covers indoors and 18 covers outdoors.

“Being a licensed premises would mean that our customers would be able to enjoy a glass of wine or prosecco with their afternoon tea, or a glass of mulled wine. The premises are planning to operate as a bistro in the evening, serving simple food, sharing platters etc.

“[The cafe] also plans to expand on the monthly music evenings. Alcohol to be consumed inside and on the outside terrace. The premises would like to offer the option of off-site sales in the same way as takeaway food.

“[We] would like to build on the monthly music night that they currently hold and plan to have one weekly or twice weekly evenings of both acoustic and lightly amplified music.”

The objectors, the number of which has not been made public by the council, state that granting the alcohol licence would have a negative impact on the quiet village.

According to a report prepared for members of the licensing sub-committee it states that the reasons for objection include that there are already other licensed premises in Staithes.

It adds: “[There are] concerns over both live and recorded music from the premises disturbing both residents and visitors [and also that an] outside area being used for the consumption of alcohol and live music within Staithes and that this would be detrimental to other businesses.

“The location of the premises has narrow pavements and cobbled street [and] the overflow of people visiting the premises could result in people in the street causing obstruction and a danger to the pedestrians.”

One objector has also said they fear the granting of the licence could lead to “public urination issues”.

The councillors have been informed that some of these objections do not fall under valid grounds within licensing regulations.

It will now be up to councillors to decide whether to grant the application.