Sunderland's 'The Little Shop' wins full-time alcohol licence - owners promise 'hip' drinks as an alternative to the mainstream

The Little Shop, in Sunderland, has previously used a series of temporary permissions to sell a range of beers from its base in High Street West.

But, after objections to the plans were withdrawn, customers will now be allowed to buy drinks every day between 11am – 11pm, opening hours permitting.

Despite backing from Northumbria Police, concerns had been raised by families living in the nearby Jane Gibson Almshouses, who thought conditions agreed with the force would not be enough to ‘ensure that the quality of life of these elderly and vulnerable people will not be affected’.

Because of this, the scheme was due to go before Sunderland City Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee on Thursday, August 13.

But city bosses were able to cancel the hearing and grant the licence after all objections to the plans were later withdrawn.

The Little Shop, run by the brains behind Holmside Coffee, in the Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens, has been trading for about a year and a half.

According to a report prepared for councillors, since May the business has been granted at least five temporary event notices (TENs) giving it permission to sell alcohol on specified days.

Submissions to the council’s licensing department stated these had been run ‘without any issue at all selling predominantly craft ales for limited periods’.

The approved application allows it to sell alcohol for drinking off the premises and play recorded music between 11am – 11pm, seven days a week.

It also allows general opening of the store from 9am.

Initially, permission was also sought for alcohol to be consumed within the shop, but this request was later dropped.

Plans included in the application added bosses intend to stock ‘hip’ drinks, rather than ‘mainstream beverages available outside of pubs’.

This is expected to include English wines, spirits and possibly even a range of previously unbottled beer brands from North East breweries.

It is also hoped that tasting sessions will be run from the shop in the future, ‘subject to the complete abandonment of social distancing’, which has limited capacity during the COVID-19 outbreak.

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