Alcohol licence should be refused because of ‘lack of toilets’

A BIRMINGHAM city centre cafe should not be granted a late-night alcohol licence, the police have argued – because it does not have any customer toilets.

Rodroj Coffee Lounge & Restaurant, in Smallbrook Queensway, is due before the council’s licensing committee next week with an application to serve alcohol until 4am, Sunday to Monday.

The cafe already has a licence to remain open until 4am for late night refreshments, though it is not currently allowed to serve alcohol.

And both West Midlands Police and Environmental Health have written to the council requesting that the application be denied, with the police citing a range of ‘ambiguous’ and ‘unenforceable’ conditions.

“The premises currently has a late night refreshment licence until 4am daily and trades as a takeaway, although there are approximately five tables inside the premises,” they said.

“The premises have submitted various operating conditions on their application which are ambiguous and therefore unenforceable.

“The premises plan does not show any toilet facilities for customers using the premises.”

Environmental Health also wrote to the council asking it to reject the application, citing noise concerns.

And they also raised concerns over the lack of toilets, writing: “The premises is currently used as a takeaway, and the floor plans provided do not show any customer toilets. Whilst this is not of concern for a takeaway, it would be of concern for a drinking establishment.

“I had asked the applicant to confirm whether or not there are customer toilets as it is a handdrawn plan so they may have been omitted in error, however I heard nothing back.”

The hearing is due to take place next Tuesday.