The empty King Street unit is located in a so-called cumulative impact assessment area having been identified in Carmarthenshire Council’s licensing policy as a hotspot of alcohol-related crime and disorder.
When this cumulative impact assessment policy came into force in two years ago there were 22 licensed premises within the defined area, a report before a council licensing sub-committee said.
The policy means there’s a presumption against new licences for King Street, Queen Street and Nott Square, although there are exceptional circumstances.
Lewis Harrison, legal representative of applicant Adam Cole, told the licensing sub-committee the proposed venue would be a casual dining operation with seated customers eating and drinking.
He said the aim was to create something “sophisticated”, rather than a venue for younger drinkers, and appeal to “a more mature clientele”.
Council licensing officer Emyr Jones said the initial application had been “very much” an alcohol and entertainment one, and that this prompted concerns from the licensing department and Dyfed-Powys Police.
He said the application had been amended to reduce the proposed hours of operation and remove a request for live and recorded music.
Police licensing officer Nichola Williams said crime statistics from 2024-25 did not show the cumulative impact assessment area to be a hotspot for crime and disorder but that crimes were not always reported and that concerns about the application had been expressed by the neighbourhood policing team which patrolled the area.
The main concern, she said, was that the proposed tapas bar would not remain a food-led service. She added: “I don’t think you can control what your clientele will be.”
She also said that staff at a nearby licensed premises run by Mr Cole had supported police following a recent assault unconnected to his premises by offering CCTV footage without hesitation, showing “an open and engaging manner”.
Referring to the proposed tapas venue, she said: “We essentially would like a premises that is run well, that is managed well.”
The sub-committee report included a statement from a police community support officer who said he came across 80 to 100 noisy youths on Nott Square one night last September. “There was significant evidence of alcohol consumption, broken glass, discarded cans and bottles and vomit, and many youths were under the influence,” it said.
The meeting heard that the number of licensed premises actually operating in the area was lower now than previously but Mr Jones, for the council, said the licences themselves remained in effect unless they had been surrendered or removed. “It’s quite a mixed picture,” he said.
After retiring to consider the evidence the sub-committee granted the licence for the unit, which is to the right of St Peter’s Civic Hall looking from King Street, with conditions including the supply of alcohol to end at 11pm and the venue to close 30 minutes later. Another condition is no drinking in the area outside the venue and no more than four customers to be stood outside at any one time.
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