MasterChef contestant bids to open restaurant
A FORMER teacher who reached the semi-finals of MasterChef wants to open a restaurant in Caerphilly.
Francesca Keirle aims to open Geshmak – a cafe, bar and bistro at 6 Clive Street, in a building formerly occupied by The Deli.
Caerphilly council’s licensing sub-committee met on March 15 to decide on a licensing application that will allow her to sell alcohol, including some offsales as part of a deli arrangement.
The business owner, who described herself as having a “passion” for cooking inspired by her grandmother and family’s heritage, said her new branch of Geshmak will “enhance” the town.
Diners had complimented her previous restaurant, in Newport, for its warm welcome and “outstanding” food, she added.
Ms Keirle has applied to serve alcohol with meals, and at events such as open-mic nights and jazz evenings.
The committee heard Gwent Police and various council departments had offered no objections to the plans for the new Clive Street venue.
The licence application, however, did draw objections from people nearby, who raised concerns the sale of alcohol could cause issues with noise and antisocial behaviour.
But many of those 11 letters referred to an “off-licence” as opposed to a restaurant, and Ms Keirle told the council that Geshmak “would not tolerate antisocial behaviour or any activities that could be construed as nuisance”.
Ms Keirle acknowledged there could be some off-sales of alcohol as part of Geshmak’s “speciality deli offerings” but said the concerns objectors had raised were “associated with other types of business”.
These off-sales would be items like small bottles of local produce in hampers, rather than cans of lager, she told the meeting.
Ms Keirle said her application “seems to have been misunderstood” by people who objected, and added she was keen to work with residents to help them find out more about her restaurant.
The licensing committee is due to announce its decision.