Southwold restaurant Loaded Southwold gets green light to sell alcohol in time for Christmas

A new restaurant in a Suffolk town has been given the go-ahead to serve alcohol in time for Christmas.

Emma Barber, owner of Loaded Southwold, in Southwold, said after the council decision yesterday: “We’ve ordered a lot of beer and wine in for Christmas, so it was either we get this licence or we have a very merry one at home.

“We opened last Thursday and we have had a great response from our customers since then.”

East Suffolk Council’s licensing sub-committee was called to a meeting over the licence because one person had complained about issuing it.

According to the officers’ report, the complaint was over concerns that sale of alcohol would cause noise and disturbance for residents.

Ms Barber explained she had spoken to the complainant and they seemed more concerned about the building’s change of use from a shop to a restaurant – and the licence was something they could oppose because of these feelings.

Alcohol can now be sold at the restaurant on Victoria Street between 11am and 10pm, Monday to Sunday.

A ‘Challenge 25’ policy will be implemented, CCTV will be installed and free drinking water will be available.

Loaded Southwold is a family-run business that serves fries or waffles with a choice of toppings, such as brisket and blue cheese or chunky mushroom stroganoff.

Ms Barber explained she had experienced problems with phone providers and asked that customers order takeaways via a QR code displayed on the online menu – which is linked to from the restaurant’s website.