Friday December 13th 2024
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A family-run coffee shop in Melrose has been granted the go-ahead to add some “sophistication” to the town’s night life.
When members of Scottish Borders Council’s Licensing Board met on Friday, December 13, they agreed an application from Melrose Chambers Coffee House, located at the former Royal Bank of Scotland premises on the High Street, for a provisional premises licence to sell alcohol on site Monday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm, and off-site Monday to Sunday, 11am to 10pm.
Alcohol will be sold predominantly, but not exclusively, with food.
No objection to the application was received from either Police Scotland or the council’s Licensing Standards Enforcement Officer.
The application was submitted by Juliet, Maggie Anne and Lawrence Wilson.
Juliet told committee members: “I think our business provides something to Melrose that it doesn’t already have.
“Melrose has some wonderful restaurants and some very well-run pubs but we would like to offer in the evenings, a couple of evenings a week, more of a kind of wine bar offering, something maybe a bit more sophisticated than going to some of the local pubs but not quite stretching to hot foods and a three-course meal service either.
“My family and I have the business together and we are all experienced in the restaurant business and the licensing trade and we aren’t interested in competing with any of the pubs in Melrose, we want to offer a quieter offering.”
Tweeddale West Conservative Councillor Eric Small said: “It brings another usage for that building and there is a demand now for a light bite and a glass of wine.”
Councillor David Parker, Independent for Leaderdale and Melrose, added: “Great to see the business develop and I think it will be an excellent addition to Melrose.”
Hawick & Hermitage’s Conservative Councillor Jane Cox, a former resident of the town, said: “This is just what Melrose needs.”
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