Council / Restaurant granted more alcohol licences but concern raised over lack of permanent one
LERWICK’s France-themed restaurant C’est La Vie has been granted licences to sell alcohol over the next few weeks with meals over Up Helly Aa and Valentine’s Day, as well as for wine tasting and selling.
However, some concern was raised over the number of repeated occasional licences C’est La Vie – which does not have a permanent premises licence – have been granted.
The latest application from owner Didier Piquer was for on and off sales between 20 January and 1 February, and 3 February and 15 February.
On sales would be for midday to 11pm, with off sales 10am to 10pm. The application said drinks would be served with food, with table service only.
However, the owners of the restaurant were reminded in prior correspondence with the council that a number of occasional licences had already been granted for C’est La Vie.
Since the first was granted on 10 June last year, a further eight have been given, with 125 days of occasional licence granted out of a possible 169 through to 4 December.
Assistant clerk to the licensing board Paul Wishart said in a letter to the applicant: “As its description implies, and as made clear in the guidance, the occasional licence system is intended to regulate the sale of alcohol on a temporary basis.
“Occasional licences are not intended to be a substitute for a premises licence.”
Piquer had replied saying that the multiple licences were not an attempt to save on the cost of a permanent one.
He added that “in order to ease the process it seems more logical to apply for a permanent one”.
At a meeting of Shetland’s licensing board on Wednesday morning, Piquer repeated his intention to apply for a permanent licence.
He added that occasional licences have “allowed us to see whether or not our operation was working – it does”.
But councillors were advised to consider C’est La Vie’s history of occasional applications and whether the restaurant was operating like a licensed premises.
Wishart asked members to consider if there were any inconsistencies with local licensing objectives.
Only Shetland Central councillor Moraig Lyall spoke against the latest applications, saying “I think at some point we have to say enough is enough”.
She said to allow repeated occasional applications seemed to be “outwith the spirit” of licensing legislation.
“It appears to me that the applicant is operating as if he has a [permanent] licence,” Lyall added.
She highlighted that some previous applications did not refer to any special events or occasions.
However her fellow ward member Catherine Hughson moved that the applications be granted, saying she did not feel there were grounds for refusal.
She noted that there have been some applications linked to specific events – such as Up Helly Aa and the Bergen-Lerwick yacht race – and said the premises had not gone over the allocation for the days of occasional licence granted.
Hughson’s move to approve the applications was seconded, with Lyall receiving no backers.
Board chairman Neil Pearson said he agreed with Hughson but said Lyall had made a “very valid point” and urged consideration of a permanent licence.
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