A Roslyn, Dunedin cafe has been granted a liquor licence from 8am to 1am daily, despite opposition from residents concerned about excessive noise.
In a decision released recently by the Liquor Licensing Authority, the owner of a cafe known as Kiki Beware, at 302 Highgate, was granted a licence for one year.
The cafe had previously operated as Ibericos until it was bought by Melanie Norman in July 2008.
Miss Norman, the sole shareholder and director of the company, appeared before Judge David Holderness at a hearing in Dunedin on June 4.
She had initially applied to get a licence for Monday to Sunday during the hours 7am until 4am, which attracted a number of objections.
A common thread of the objections was that the hours were excessive and there was a risk of excessive noise coming from the cafe.
The application was amended to the hours 8am until 1am.
Miss Norman told the authority the 8am start time was because on some occasions, such as on Dunedin race meeting days, she would like to attract patrons for a champagne breakfast.
Nearby residents Simon and Brenda Stebbings objected to the licence application, but did not appear at the hearing. Their home is below the cafe and can be seen from the cafe's courtyard.
Miss Norman said she planned to place an awning or sail over part of the courtyard to help reduce noise.
Judge Holderness said there were other licensed premises nearby and he was satisfied with the amended licence hours and that Miss Norman was a suitable person to operate a licensed premises. He said the licence would be granted and become operative once Miss Norman had her general manager's certificate.
• The owners of a bottle store in Concord, Dunedin, have been told in order for their licence to be renewed, they must remove items which were making their shop like a dairy and attracting children. The Concord Service Centre was granted a licence in September 2004 and the licence came up for renewal last September.
Police, through liquor licensing Sergeant Wayne Pitcaithly, opposed the application for renewal on the grounds the store sold items such as eggs, confectionery, ice cream and milk which did not comply with the sale of liquor act because they were not appropriate complements to liquor.
The authority visited the store and observed that there was a trellis divider to separate the alcohol from the foodstuffs but the alcohol area was easily accessible. There was also a Steinlager advertisement above the counter where confectionery was for sale.
In his decision, Judge Holderness said he was satisfied with the concerns raised by police.
"We are satisfied an unfortunate consequence of the present operation is that unaccompanied children are able to enter what is principally a bottle store...".
The licence was renewed and from August 31 only goods which complement liquor can be sold at the store.
