Plans to open a new restaurant are set to go in front of councillors next week.

On Tuesday, a Wealden District Council licensing panel is due to consider an application to secure a licence to sell alcohol at a premises in High Street, Wadhurst — a unit most recently occupied by Wealden Wholefoods.

The applicant initially described their business as a ‘specialist wine shop’, which would also offer small plates of food for customers. They have since confirmed the business would primarily be a restaurant, serving a Spanish tapas menu.

The hearing has been called in light of objections from both a number of local residents and Wealden District Council’s own Environmental Health team around noise disturbance.

In a letter to the licensing panel, an environmental health officer wrote: “I am concerned at the potential noise impact that this application will have on [neighbours] and advise that the concerns raised by [name of neighbour redacted] in her representation dated March 11, 2023, reflect those concerns of this team and are entirely justified.”

The officer added: “The use proposed is vastly different [from its previous use as a shop/cafe], seeking longer opening hours with the potential for higher levels of noise disturbance from people noise and possible music noise afforded automatically by the granting of a premises licence.”

In their representation, the officer goes on to point out how the hours of operation proposed go beyond those allowed by planning conditions attached to the property. This would not affect the licensing of the business as they are separate processes. 

The applicant had initially sought permission to sell alcohol to restaurant customers from 10am to midnight, six days a week, with shorter hours of noon to 11.30pm on Sundays. 

The requested hours were reduced during the application process, however. The applicant is now requesting permission to only sell alcohol between noon and 9.45pm Monday to Thursday, between noon and 10.45pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and between noon and 3.45pm on Sundays.

The panel is due to hear from both the applicant and interested parties before making their decision. They will be able to alter the terms of the licence being sought if they consider this necessary.