Cookham Discussion Board

As many of our customers have enjoyed over the past 4.5 years we usually incorporate a Wine Bar evening alongside our retail operation where you can taste many of our interesting wines, Thursday – Saturday 5pm - 11pm and Sunday Lunchtime 12 - 6pm.

In an attempt to reopen in these challenging times and, after months of lockdown, we recently applied for and were granted, a full alcohol license for the small garden area at the end of our courtyard. This area is only surrounded by other gardens and to the rear the Parish Rooms car park, it is not adjacent to any domestic buildings and would not result in any other properties being overlooked. Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, we have had to explore ways of operating the Wine Bar and have concluded that the only viable format is to utilise this garden area for the safety of our staff and customers.

For clarity there are two elements here regarding permissions, one is the alcohol licence and the other is planning regarding use of a commercial property.

Because the alcohol licence for the garden has now been granted, a small number of vocal and opposing local residents have complained to the planning department that we do not have the correct A1/A4 mixed use in place on the property. This was devasting news for us as we believed everything was in order. After careful consideration by the planning department it was decided that we need to now apply for a variation on our planning - even to open up the Wine Bar inside the shop when times return to normal.  This has now been submitted and a petition has been launched to help with this planning application.  If, as a patron of the Wine Bar, you would like to add your support please click on the link below.

We have been so encouraged by all the lovely messages from our loyal customers, local residents and friends. We sincerely hope that we can get back up and running as soon as possible and be able to welcome you all to our Wine Bar in Cookham High Street.

Kind Regards
Paul & Angela 
 
SIGN OUR PETITION https://www.change.org/p/local-residents-save-our-local-wine-bar-at-old-butchers-wine-cellar?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_23843188_en-GB%3A6&recruiter=1137362517&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=tap_basic_share&mc_cid=76ea3befea&mc_eid=dbf97c4883
 
 

I've signed your petition; it would be lovely to have an outdoor wine garden with tasting. It's unfortunate you have had difficulties with local residents. Our local community relies on our local businesses, and this will be especially the case in the future as we transition to a lifestyle where more people are working remotely and spending more time in their community.

As such, the relationship between community members needs to be as harmonious and consensual as possible. Of course, this doesn't mean we won't disagree from time to time, but I would like to hope that your neighbours might ultimately understand the benefit to the entire community which results from your initiative. These are difficult times and having some form of safe outlet to socialise and enjoy ourselves is critical to our wellbeing. Speaking personally therefore you have my complete support and I wish you the very best of luck with your planning application.