Cafe next to football pitch refused booze licence

By Kiro Evans, Local Democracy Reporter

A Bromley cafe on the edge of a football pitch has seen its bid for a booze licence shot down – with residents saying they do not want an “outdoor pub on their doorstep”.

The Lawnmower Shed in Beckenham serves takeaway coffee but had been seeking permission from the council to sell alcohol until 10pm.

But its efforts have been thwarted as residents who feared rowdy behaviour near their homes spoke out.

They told Bromley’s licensing committee on Wednesday that they did not believe the cafe – sat next to a pitch often used by a local children’s football team – should be allowed to sell alcohol.

Langley Annexe Limited runs both the pitch and the cafe, and has a planning application going through the council to improve the facilities at the ground.

The committee said that they could not issue the alcohol licence as the application came in before the planning application.

Local Jonathan Tullett asked the committee: “Is it appropriate we grant an alcohol license somewhere the vast majority of people will be obliged to drive to football training?”

Speaking on behalf of the applicants, Alan Gunne-Jones hit back at a description of the cafe becoming an “outdoor pub”.

He added that the spot was a “much needed meeting place for refreshments.”

Pictured top: The Lawnmower Shed can currently sell takeaway coffee, but will not be able to sell alcohol (Picture: Google Maps)