A café outside a gym in the centre of Bath has been given the green light to serve alcohol, despite neighbours’ concerns.
FLY Fitness is based on Bath Street | Photo © John Wimperis
The Mjolk Float coffee truck outside FLY Fitness on Bath Street is an offshoot of Bath’s popular Nordic café Mjolk, on the Bath Abbey courtyard.
Director Chris Clinton said: “Normally the clientele we serve is a family having coffee.”
But the company applied for a licence to serve alcohol at the café too. Fellow director Joe Suckling added: “For us, it’s just about being able to offer something seasonally — an Aperol Spritz in nice weather.”
The pair were speaking as they defended their plans at a hearing over the application before Bath & North East Somerset Council’s licensing sub-committee, held after neighbours objected.
Ann Crooke who lives nearby said that, despite the city centre location, it was still “a quiet street in the evening.”
She said: “It’s a quiet residential area and this is all going to change. We start off with a few drinks during the day and as happened with FLY, it gets bigger and bigger.”
She added that she was concerned there would not be enough people to keep order. Mr Clinton told Mrs Crooke: “I just want to give you my guarantee that my staff will have your back.”
Mr Clinton and Mr Suckling said they wanted to have the opportunity to do some events around Nordic food at the coffee truck, but large events would happen at the main Mjolk premises.
He said: “What we are trying to offer is something very small, quiet, and respectful to those who live in the area.”
Councillors voted to grant the licence. But licensing sub-committee chair Steve Hedges added: “I would strongly, strongly encourage you to talk to each other because you solve more problems that way than it creates.”
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter
