WEYMOUTH: Restaurant, bistro and comedy club in one

The site in St Mary Street, formerly occupied by the Evolve fashion shop, was discussed at a meeting of Weymouth and Portland licensing committee.

Members were told that the new business, Taste Weymouth, will be run by licence holder Helen Parkin and husband, Robert, the Parkin family already operating the Taste bistro in Bridport.

Helen Parkin told the meeting that they were “caterers first and foremost” and that the basement would be a members only club with £150 annual fees “to eliminate the lager louts”.

She added that they were looking to get entry into the Good Food Guide and similar publications and that their restaurant would be pirate-themed and family orientated, stating strongly that they were not going to be a nightclub, a lap dancing club or a casino.

She assured the committee that children would be monitored to prevent them leaving the family restaurant area.

John Green, who runs the Tara guesthouse in nearby Market Street, objected to the licence being granted and said midnight closure times being discussed were much later than those on an original notice stuck to the front door of the premises which he claimed had not been “speaking the truth” and which had interfered with democratic rights.

Licensing staff agreed that the first licence application had been “badly drafted, ambiguous and very misleading”, but it had been withdrawn and properly submitted.

Mr Green also voiced concerns about the rear entrance potentially adding to problems in Maiden Street.

Earlier residents’ spokesman Pat Silverton said they wanted “to see the place open”.

He was reassured about any future licence time variations which chairman Councillor Hazel Bruce said would need a fresh application which would be considered “on its merits”.

Summing up, Robert Parkin said: “Our ethos is a better clientele.”

He added that mediation had produced sensible hours because “we are not out to upset anybody”.

The committee then granted a licence for Taste Weymouth subject to more than a dozen conditions after which joint owner Louise Parkin said: “We are delighted and hope to be open by the end of April.”

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