Vineyard tour plans approved despite objections

The Bay Vineyard applied for a licence to organise visits with wine tastings and to sell produce to visitors

A vineyard on the North Yorkshire coast will be able to offer tours and sell wine, despite some local opposition.

The Bay Vineyard, at Robin Hood’s Bay, applied for a licence to organise visits with wine tastings and to sell its produce to visitors.

The move received more than 40 objections raising concerns about proposed operating hours, noise disturbance and the impact on local roads.

At a meeting of North Yorkshire Council's licencing sub-committee, the business was given the go-ahead to run tours and sell wine between 09:00-23:00 GMT daily.

The vineyard, which grows red and white English grape varieties, was set up at Greenhills Farm as a diversification project, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

No objections were made by the North York Moors National Park Authority and several letters of support were also sent to the council.

Speaking at the meeting, Rebecca Sheveling, from the business, said they had “no intention of operating the premises as a wedding and events venue” as had been suggested by some objectors.

After hearing from the licensing officer and nine members of the public, sub-committee chair Tim Grogan said the premises licence would be granted subject to several conditions.

The applicants said the vineyard had been limited to 10 tours a year and would expand after it received a grant from the Rural England Prosperity Fund.

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