Cafe given alcohol licence despite 'hostile energy'

A village restaurant has been given permission to sell alcohol despite a campaign against its licence application described as "hostile energy".

Oi Dumplings owners Mollie Power and Maisie Davies applied to Kirklees Council for consent to serve alcohol from their business in Marsden, near Huddersfield.

Their bid divided the village, and supporters accused objectors of trying to "sabotage" the cafe.

The council's licensing committee decided to grant the licence but with the condition that sales must cease by 18:00 BST, rather than the 23:00 BST end of service requested by the applicants.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council chamber at Huddersfield Town Hall was packed out on 3 July when the panel met to determine the application.

Four objections were sent to the council in response, with one later withdrawn. Concerns around noise, anti-social behaviour, and potential parking issues were raised.

An opposing petition was also set up by a neighbouring business owner, prompting Ms Davies to launch a petition of her own, which gained more than 2,000 signatures in support of Oi Dumplings.

A further 150 letters of support were sent to the council, and there were no objections from West Yorkshire Police or the council's environmental health team.

Several Marsden residents spoke in favour of Oi at the meeting. Former neighbour Tom Herbert said: “Never once did I have any issue with them, with their customers, with anything to do with their business."

Supporter Hannah Gill told the meeting: “I think Cafe Oi is one of the most exciting things to happen in the village in the 12 years that my husband and I have lived there.

“We are genuinely sympathetic towards objectors, but Marsden and its high street has to evolve and find a way forward."

However, objector June Barraclough, who runs a ladieswear shop next door, said the cafe had brought "noise and disturbance".

She added: “It’s already affecting me. The anxiety and stress the situation has caused is starting to affect my health and wellbeing. My life will never be the same if this property is allowed to open longer hours with an alcohol licence."

In response, Oi's co-owner Ms Davies said she appreciated Ms Barraclough's concerns, adding that it was previously a commercial unit and "we’re hoping to turn it into somewhere that's not a drinking den, it’s a really nice restaurant".

She added that she and her business partner were willing to work with Ms Barraclough, but added that the campaign against the application had brought stress, anxiety and "hostile energy".

The licence will allow for alcohol to be sold from Monday to Sunday between 10:00 BST and 18:00 BST.