Distillery tasting sessions approved by council

Pocketful of Stones applied to Cornwall Council for a premises licence

An application to offer tasting sessions at a distillery in Cornwall has been approved despite council concerns.

Pocketful of Stones applied to Cornwall Council for a premises licence for its shop on Church Street in Falmouth.

The town council objected as it feared it could potentially add to alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour in a "really problematic area".

Cornwall Council's licensing committee decided the premises licence would not add to public nuisance and crime and disorder after conditions were agreed with police.

The committee heard the premises would be open seven days a week from 11:00 to 21:00 BST.

A spokesperson for the business said they wanted to follow the success of its other shop in Penzance.

But Falmouth Town Council objected to the licence application as the shop is in the heart of a Cumulative Impact Zone, which limits the growth of licensed premises in a problem area.

Concerns over crime

Debra Clegg, from the town council, said: "Our objection was purely on the Cumulative Impact Zone.

"These premises are slap bang in the middle of a really problematic area for Falmouth and its residents.

"It's the main part where we have lots of alcohol-related complaints, crime issue and antisocial behaviour."

A spokesperson for the company told councillors: "Our clientele are people who enjoy those premium spirits.

"They're not consumed in a binge drinking sort of way."