New off-licence approved despite 118 objections

The new shop will be located on the same premises as the former Pickle and Lime grocery store on Botley Road

A new off-licence selling groceries, alcohol and vapes in Oxford has been approved despite objections by 118 neighbours.

The shop will be located on the same premises as the former Pickle and Lime grocery store, on Botley Road, which closed in 2024 after decades of trading due to the ongoing road closure.

Mansi Chowdhry, who applied for a licence to sell alcohol every day from 05:00 to 23:00, said it would be run as a Nisa store.

But objections raised fears it would encourage children from nearby schools to take up vaping and drinking, leading to anti-social behaviour and noise.

Ms Chowdhry said she thought it would be "a perfect fit", as there were not many other convenience stores nearby, other than a large Waitrose.

She said 80% of the items would be groceries, tobacco products would be kept in a locked draw, while alcohol and vapes would be kept behind the counter.

Many of the objections also asked for the hours of selling alcohol to be shorter, and Ms Chowdhry agreed to reduce them to between 07:00 and 23:00.

'Inappropriate'

Green councillor Lois Muddiman said many of the residents she had spoken to "would very much welcome a new grocery store".

"67 Botley Road has been a much-loved grocery shop for many years," she said.

"Sadly because of the long closure of the Botley Road, they had to close."

But Ms Muddiman said she thought the licensing hours were "inappropriate for this residential area".

"In particular, one of the properties directly opposite the site provides temporary accommodation for vulnerable women – this includes recovering addicts," she said.

Labour councillor Susanna Pressel said the shop could be an "asset to the community".

But she said the hours for selling alcohol should be shortened and run from midday to 21:00 or 23:00.