A COFFEE shop has been denied permission to serve alcohol outdoors after several residents objected to the plans.

Barney’s Coffee Shop at 39 High Street, East Linton, had applied for a provisional premises licence to sell alcohol.

It was proposed to convert part of the coffee shop into a display for retail wines and spirits in conjunction with North Berwick business Lockett Bros, as well as serving alcohol to customers enjoying a meal there.

The former East Linton Post Office was converted into a coffee shop by Gareth Pickles more than two years ago.

Mr Pickles planned to focus his new venture on predominantly alcohol off-sales but also proposed a small amount of alcohol consumption on the premises, plus invite-only wine-tasting events, a website to support product sales and a home delivery service.

In an application submitted to East Lothian Council’s licensing board, Barney’s stated that there was “no intention to convert the coffee shop into a wine bar” but proposed stocking products from local retailers and brands that differed from those found in shops in the village.

At a virtual meeting of the licensing board last month, Mr Pickles and his plans met no objections from Police Scotland – with Police Constable Graeme Bairden saying: “Barney’s appears very well run.”

Rudi Fruzynski, the council’s licensing standards officer, added that “the applicant has operated under temporary occasional licences since December 1, 2020, without any identified issues or complaints”.

Barney’s has permission for outdoor seating but its proposal to allow customers to have a glass of alcohol outdoors with their food was met with several objections.

One objector, Alan Christie, told councillors “this is nothing personal towards Mr Pickles” but said the plans proposed would cause disruption.

Another, Jennifer Cunningham, who lives nearby, said the outdoor drinking area would disturb neighbours.

Councillors agreed to grant a licence on the condition that Barney’s did not serve alcohol outdoors.