Cornwall local licensing disputes

St Minver Highlands Parish Council has formally objected to a licensing application for the Baby Bay Beach Club, a pop-up wood-fired restaurant located near Polzeath in Cornwall. The council and local residents expressed concerns that granting an alcohol license could exacerbate antisocial behaviour in an area that recently operated under a dispersal order.

Opponents argue that licensing the premises could increase noise, litter, and alcohol-fuelled disorder, potentially contradicting the existing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in Polzeath. Residents also cited a lack of public facilities, alleging that people have used the beach as a toilet.

Porthilly Spirit Distillery Ltd, the operator, has defended the proposal, stating there is no evidence that patrons have used the beach as a toilet. The company plans to operate primarily for lunch between noon and 6pm, with occasional late-night feasts lasting until 11pm. Cornwall Council is scheduled to discuss the application on September 9, following 12 formal representations against the proposal.