Tuesday February 17th 2026
High Street Deli, Yetholm
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Villagers are this week aiming to block a bid from a Borders family-run deli to sell booze amid fears it could generate anti-social behaviour.
When members of Scottish Borders Council Licensing Board meet on Friday, February 20, they will be asked to consider an application for a premises licence at the High Street Deli in Town Yetholm.
The bid is for the premises to sell wines and local spirits/beers to accompany food sales, from 10am to 10pm. An online and delivery service would also be available.
Although there are no objections to the application from the council’s licensing standards enforcement officer or Police Scotland the proposal has raised the hackles of some locals.
A total of 18 individual objections have been submitted on the grounds of increased noise, traffic congestion, potential public nuisance, disorder and anti-social behaviour.
One objector stated: “Opening hours for the sale of alcohol will cause an increase in late night noise and there’s likely to be rowdy behaviour, as well as an increase in litter from discarded bottles, beer cans, vapes and cigarette butts.
“Yetholm is a small, quiet village which offers a safe environment to residents from a wide age, including elderly people. It’s my opinion that no benefits can come to the village residents from providing an increase in the ability to purchase alcohol beyond normal shop hours.”
Another objector claims the application puts at risk the existing village’s community shop, saying: “When Yetholm Community Shop Ltd was established, it was supported not only by shareholders and a range of grants but also by financial support from Scottish Borders Council.
“The existence of the community shop has benefits beyond a simple commercial enterprise. The provision of a licence to High Street Deli would put the survival of this important community resource at risk. It makes no sense that SBC would give tax-payers’ support to Yetholm Community Shop Ltd yet be willing to risk its existence.”
However, a response from Yetholm & District Community Council praises the deli for its contribution to village life.
It states: “The village is very fortunate that the owner of the deli is willing to give the youngsters in the village the opportunity to earn some pocket money whilst gaining vital work experience.
“The village has had numerous shops in the past, but the last five years has seen this reduce to the community shop and intermittent use of the current deli, which was previously a butchers.
“Complaints of noise, litter and parking can also be levelled to the community shop. There are many residents will never have known the village have more than two shops.
“Whilst the community shop and the two hotels are able to offer the sale of alcohol, the community shop closes at 4pm and both of the village hotels are known to close when there are no customers in the bar.
“Therefore, for community service, the deli could be catering when other facilities are not available.”
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