La Trompette Opposes Tamp's Bid To Play Live Music

Neighbours not happy about cafe's plans to sell alcohol and have live music

The modern-rustic coffee shop Tamp, in Devonshire Road is facing opposition from neighbouring residents, including Michelin-starred restaurant La Trompette, over its bid to have longer opening hours, serve alcohol and to play live music on Sundays. La Trompette is against the cafe's plan to play live music on Sundays.

An application for a new premises licence to serve a selection of wines and bottled beer on the premises as an extension of the current menu of espresso drinks, smoothies, and light meals and snacks, is on the agenda for discussion at Hounslow Council's Licensing Panel on Tuesday ( Jan 5th). The cafe also wants to have permission for Live Music on Sundays from 1200-1800.

The application states that alcohol would be served Monday to Wednesdays from 10:00 until 22:30; 10:00 until 22:30 on Thurs-Sat and Sundays 12:00 to 18:00.

The cafe is owned by Dorian Needs, who did not wish to make any comment when contacted.

The owner of La Trompette, Nigel Platts Martin, is one of those who has written to the Licensing Panel of Hounslow Council objecting to the application to play live music (on Sundays) on the grounds that it would be too noisy for his customers as well as having a negative impact on the surrounding residential area and businesses.

He said in his letter that the noise from live music would not be able to be contained as the front door would be continuously opened. The internal soundproofing was completely inadequate as the interior had been stripped to bare brickwork.

A number of other residents and a business owner have also written to oppose the plan. One, a residents in an upstairs flat over the coffee shop said they were opposed to the alcohol licence and longer opening hours. They were experiencing continual noise from 7 am until 6/7 pm ranging from slamming doors, to people talking in the cafe below them and there was no sound proofing.

If granted a licence, the noise would be greater and would go on for longer. They were totally opposed to live music at any time but particularly on a Sunday.

To grant permission for sales of alcohol to a small cafe was to all intents and purposes changing it into a pub, and were were three pubs in the vicinity, said the letter. You can read about the issue on the Council website.

January 2, 2016