A Dunkeld shop pairing whisky with luxury chocolates has been given the go-ahead.
The shop’s future was in jeopardy after objections were submitted from 11 individuals including Birnam and Dunkeld Community Council.
Taste Talk Ltd’s managing director said he was saddened a few “mostly misinformed” objectors had “tried to scupper this unique project.”
On Thursday November 4 Perth and Kinross licensing board was asked to consider an application to grant an off-sales licence to Taste Talk with the tastings offered on the premises being ancillary to the off-sales licence.
Objector Mr McEwan attended the meeting on behalf of Birnam and Dunkeld Community Council.
Following questioning from Cllr Willie Wilson, Mr McEwan raised concerns about noise from the shop disturbing the flat above currently inhabited by a young family.
It then emerged there had been some confusion in the community over the distinction between an off-sales and on-sales licence.
Cllr Tom Gray sought clarity over the community council’s objection on-sales would be occurring as well as off-sales.
Mr McEwan said: “Quite honestly personally I’m not aware of the difference between on-sales and off-sales.
“I think the concern was the selling of alcohol for people consuming it on the premises and then getting a bit jolly.”
There were further objections raised over the shop being open until 10pm but managing director Peter Hounam said it would only be open late for pairing evenings and would normally close at 5 or 6pm.
He told the board: “In a small way Taste Talk is creating a new type of shopping experience.
“It’s one of the innovations we think Perthshire needs to help revive the High Street.
“We are starting in Dunkeld High Street - for those who think it’s a residential area - because it’s a very important tourist destination.
“We are not just a residential area - as many of you probably know - there’s a bank just across the road, there’s another off-licence next to it, two doors to our left is another pub, we have other shops in the market area of Dunkeld.
“So we think it’s entirely appropriate what we are doing should be here.”
He said he offered to pay for additional soundproofing but the National Trust had said they would deal with it. Mr Hounam suggested the neighbours upstairs lay a carpet.
He said: “They have no proper carpeting in the room above us and therefore they could do a little bit more.”
Addressing one point raised in an objection over the shop selling food he told the board: “We are not selling food. We are only selling chocolates - if you consider chocolates food.”
Taste Talk sells Iuxury chocolates made by Iain Burnett Highland Chocolatier of which Mr Hounam was the founder and managing director for the first three years.
He said Taste Talk was a separate business with more of an events component they plan to take to five-star hotels such as Gleneagles.
Mr Hounam claimed the community council had “a bit of a cheek.”
He said: “I had to complain to the community council as one of its members screamed at me that I was a liar when she accosted me about putting in a letterbox - a letterbox the planners confirmed was entirely allowable.”
He said the previous chairman of the community council told him they “entirely supported a business like ours” so it came as “quite a shock” when they “suddenly started making up objections.”
Mr Hounam called their objections “incoherent” and “not very detailed.”
He told councillors there were “only six households complaining” and “literally scores of local households who have been in here and love the place.”
Following councillors’ questioning of Mr Hounam and business partner Gillian Marsh, Mr McEwan admitted he was “slightly at a loss” and no one else was available from the community council which was why he was there.
The newly appointed community council chairman said: “Listening to everything that has been going on I’m certainly more enlightened.
“To be fair the objections the community council put forward were from the community not necessarily individual community councillors.”
He said the community council was there to represent the views of the community.
Mr McEwan added: “I think - to be quite honest - there has been a lot of misunderstanding about what was going on within this application.
“People are very concerned about what’s going on in the village. If you actually add up how many establishments that sell alcohol in Dunkeld and Birnam I think we would be deemed a spirit-drinking community.”
Conservative councillor John Duff proposed granting a provisional premises licence subject to local mandatory conditions. This was seconded by Cllr Andrew Parrott and unanimously approved by the board.
Following the meeting Mr Hounam said: “We’re saddened a few objectors - mostly misinformed - tried to scupper this unique project.
“We see our start-up, Taste-Talk Ltd, as a great addition to the local tourism experience and a great promoter of what is special about Scotland. Thankfully, the licensing board saw this too and shared our enthusiasm.”
