A cocktail kit delivery business, new to Lisvane in Cardiff, could be given the go-ahead next week.
Handcrafted Tipples is a local business offering small bottles of gin, whiskey and rum together with Fever Tree tonic and dehydrated fruit garnishes.
The idea is to deliver a box to customers with everything needed for a range of cocktails, including recipes, tasting notes and paper straws.
But the home-run business is applying for a licence from Cardiff council to sell alcohol off the premises, as its owners have recently moved from Llanishen to Lisvane.
The business is an offshoot of Handcrafted Horsebox, where customers can rent a vintage horsebox fitted out with a custom mobile cocktail bar, for weddings, parties and corporate events. When the pandemic hit, the team started the cocktail kit delivery service instead.
Jon Murray, of Handcrafted Tipples, said: “We used to do food and drink events and private parties with a vintage horsebox, but coronavirus has postponed that business. So we have flipped the business with Covid in mind, and now bring the party to the house.”
Lisvane Community Council has raised concerns about the business, as it is located near a school, and there is a potential for increased traffic in the area with delivery drivers. Writing to the licensing committee, the community council objected to the new licence.
Haydn Davies, clerk of the community council, said: “Directly opposite to the property is Lisvane Primary School. An alcohol delivery service operating from this particular location would result in a significant and unwelcome increase in vehicular traffic throughout the day.
“Lisvane Community Council believes that this is probably the worst residential location in Lisvane for this kind of business. [We’re] supportive of business start-ups, but not at the expense of child safety or nuisance to neighbours.”
Mr Murray said he has written to the community council to discuss his plans for the business and to allay any concerns about traffic. He delivers the drinks sent locally, with a DHL van collecting orders once a day for deliveries elsewhere across the country.
He added: “They didn’t have a full understanding of the business. Nobody approached me to ask about how the business operated. It’s been a misunderstanding on their part. But I wrote to the community council to give them more information.
“There will be a very minimal increase in traffic. Hopefully my contact with them will put that to rest.”
In the meantime Handcrafted Tipplies has been operating under temporary event notices, of which businesses can only apply for a certain number each year. Councillors on the licensing committee will consider whether to grant a full licence on Friday, May 14.
