A coffee shop can now serve alcoholic drinks.

Botanist Coffee Co director Simon Duddington, 39, told Brighton and Hove City Council that he wanted to offer spritzers and gin and tonics until 10pm to customers enjoying a summer evening.

The venue, in Church Road, Hove, was previously occupied by the Small Batch Coffee Company which had a licence but it lapsed.

At the licensing panel hearing, the councillors were told that there were plans for low-key acoustic music events with noise at an “ambient” level.

The business is in an area where the council has a policy of restricting the grant of new licences for pubs and off-licences because of crime levels.

But it has fewer restrictions for cafés where customers can buy food as well as alcohol.

In a letter granting the licence, the council said: “The panel has considered this application on its merits.

“It welcomes the applicant’s active engagement with the police and environmental health, the agreed conditions and the removal of off-sales (from the application).

“The agreed conditions should ensure that the operation of the premises will not add to problems in the vicinity.”