The owner of a high street deli says he is “overjoyed” to be granted a permanent alcohol licence despite objections from residents worried about noise.
Craig Selby opened Deal Deli in the town in December after deciding to upgrade his market stall to a full-time shop.
Since then, he has had to apply for six temporary event licences to provide alcohol with food.
But after applying for a permanent licence, six objections from residents were lodged complaining about the noise it could bring.
Mr Selby said: “The reason why Deal High Street is so popular and prevalent is because of the calming nature of what occurs.
“My delicatessen is Italian, it’s not a drinking establishment it’s merely a glass of wine accompanied by food.
“This isn’t pints and pork scratchings, it’s aperitivo accompanied by arancini balls, a pizza slice, and antipasti.
“It’s promoting European drinking culture in the UK.
“Residents who live in the high street have moaned about noise but I’m trying to buck the trend of turning shop fronts into living rooms.
“I don’t want to upset my neighbours I want to work with them.
“There has never been a single incident since we opened so I’m overjoyed it was approved.
“We only have six chairs and three tables so it’s not like people are spilling onto the high street or creating a disturbance.
“I live above the shop too which is important, it is my home so I’m not here to be impeded or create issues with noise or anti-social behaviour.
“We are not doing anything new, it just means I don’t have to keep applying for temporary licences.”
As well as six objections, up to 20 letters of support were also sent to Dover District Council (DDC) by Mr Selby’s customers.
A spokesperson from DDC said: “Any licensing application that receives relevant representations (relating to the four licensing objectives) is referred to the licensing sub-committee for a decision.
“Deal Deli received six relevant representations within the consultation period, so the matter was referred to the licensing sub-committee for a decision.
“The licence was granted as applied for, with a minor amendment to the plan.”
Mr Selby decided to chase his vision of trading authentic Italian cuisine in Deal after a bleed to the brain made him feel “life was too short” for hesitation.
The 42-year-old transformed a shop at the north end of the High Street into Deal Deli, where he has combined his passion for food with vintage Italian vehicles.
Mr Selby started up in the town’s Saturday market after his work in events dried up during the pandemic.
The stall became a hit and now he has turned the deli into his full-time job.