City Hall bosses have been accused of “shooting down” minority-owned retailers and favouring white businesses.
Councillor Peter Abraham refuted the allegation, made at a licensing hearing, and said a licensing application is considered on its own merits.
The claim came as Broad Quay’s City Kiosk was given the go-ahead to launch a 24-hour delivery service but denied the chance to sell alcohol until 1.30am.
Representing applicant Jaykishan Patel at the Bristol City Council hearing on September 2, Bobby Nakum said 154 out of 182 premises in the city centre are owned by large corporations or white businesses.
“I think there’s an institutional desire to keep small business and minority licence holders away from doing the business,” he said.
“Every time a minority or a small independent business tries to operate in the city centre they are shot down by these institutional policies and practices.
“The business even before Covid was struggling. Without these extra hours, especially after being closed for six months, we wouldn’t be able to survive.”
Licensing committee chair Cllr Abraham said: “I refute that we would favour one or the other. We try to look at every application on its merits.
“I’ve never found it was the case that members found that attitude or have ever been asked to take leanings in that way. We’re totally independent, bearing in mind the policies of the council and the licensing act.”
Mr Nakum told the hearing City Kiosk shut on March 6 and only reopened this week because the city centre had been “absolutely dead”, adding: “At the moment they’re closing at 8pm but need the extra hours to meet demand, aid the night-time economy of the city, and to recover from the Covid losses.
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“Many more premises will go down the delivery route because there’s been huge demand. From a licensing point of view it’s a far less risky option than on-site sales.”
The shop will use Uber Eats and Deliveroo for deliveries within Bristol and couriers DPD and Yodel for orders from further afield. Mr Nakum said they all have a ‘challenge 25’ policy to prevent underage drinking and will not make deliveries to open spaces.
The shop was allowed to extend its opening hours to 4am so they are consistent throughout the week and to offer a 24-hour delivery service.
But it was denied permission to extend its alcohol licence from midnight to 1.30am after Avon and Somerset Police raised concerns about the concentration of licensed premises.
Cllr Abraham said: “We hope the opening hours and the deliveries will give you a successful business. There’s no problem with your business but we have to look at the area as a whole.”
