Plans to serve alcohol at a new day-to-night venue being created in a former Boots store will go before City of York Council later this month.
Work is underway to turn the former pharmacy at 86 Clifton into a branch of The Curious Coffee Co.
But it’s licensing application has been met with some resistance.
Edward Copley-Farnell has applied for a premises licence to allow the venue to serve alcohol both on and off the premises.
Under the plans, the café would open from 7am, serving brunch, light lunches, and cakes during the day, before transitioning in the evening into a relaxed food venue offering pizzas and Italian-style dishes.
If approved, alcohol sales would be allowed until 10pm Sunday to Wednesday and until 11pm Thursday to Saturday, with closing time set for 11pm on peak nights.
However, the application has drawn pushback from neighbours who worry the extended hours will bring unwanted noise, traffic, and public nuisance to what they describe as an otherwise quiet residential area.
The application has triggered two formal objections.
One resident living directly opposite the site voiced concerns over the proposed operating hours, saying that increased footfall and customer traffic late at night could disrupt the peace.
Pointing out that visitors to the area already ignore local parking restrictions, they argued that extra evening trade would worsen parking problems and increase disturbance from arriving and departing vehicles.
“I consider these finishing times too late for this location, given the proximity of residential properties,” the resident wrote, calling on councillors to restrict alcohol sales and closing times to 8pm every day.
Another resident living in nearby Pulleyn Mews said that, while they had no objection to the building operating as a coffee shop, the shift to late-night alcohol, with amplified music, and cooking smells, raised serious flags.
“The licensing application has been made before the premises have opened, and I ask the licensing authority to consider whether the likely impact of these additional activities was fully assessed,” they wrote.
Concerns included potential low-frequency bass noise, acoustic insulation between buildings, extraction odours, customers gathering outside at night, and noisy glass bottle disposal.
North Yorkshire Police have raised no objections after reaching an agreement with the business owner on a series of operating conditions.
To prevent “vertical drinking” and maintain a family-friendly restaurant atmosphere, the venue must maintain a minimum of 20 seats indoors for customer use. The applicant has also agreed that:
- Alcohol sales will be strictly ancillary to food between 7am and midday.
- Drinks sales will cease 30 minutes before closing time to allow for a “drinking-up” period.
- No drinks or glassware will be permitted on the street or pavement outside.
- A comprehensive 28-day digital CCTV system, staff training logs, and a Challenge 25 age verification policy will be enforced.
The Curious Coffee Company already has cafés in Haxby and Easingwold and the one planned for Clifton would be able to seat up to 40 people.
It follows the closure of the Boots in February 2024 as part of the company’s plans to cut the amount of its high street pharmacies.
The applicant’s submission emphasises that the venue is designed to be a “family friendly, community focussed coffee shop and eatery” aimed at residents and visitors, with clear signage urging patrons to leave quietly at night.
Councillors will meet on Monday, 19 October at West Offices to review the evidence and choose whether to grant the licence as requested, attach additional conditions, shorten the requested hours, or reject the application.