Council criticised for allowing national coffee brand to hand out free drinks in town centre

Cornwall Council is facing criticism for granting street permits to a national coffee brand, allowing it to hand out free drinks to people arriving for the Boardmasters festival.

Mark Warren, Manager of Newquay Business Improvement District (BID), has expressed concern about the potential impact on the town’s independent businesses. He says we need to make sure that the footfall is going into the cafés who are trading – opening early and late.

Mr Warren said the promotional company’s staff were courteous and that the business involved had agreed to remain mobile and operate in various locations to minimise the impact on any one trader. He also suggested that EU-derived legislation means the council may be unable to consider existing local competition when deciding on street trading applications in town centres.

A copy of the permit - seen by Radio Newquay - shows the company is permitted to operate in “designated areas” between 10am and 5pm each day during the festival.

Topher Chard, owner of Saltd Café on Cliff Road, said many local businesses pay business rates to the council and deserve support. He criticised the move, saying national chains giving away free drinks are taking away trade from businesses like his.

Drew Creek, Mayor of Newquay and Cornwall Councillor, said licences of this kind should be restricted to official festival sites such as Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach. He said he plans to raise the issue with council officers at County Hall.

A spokesperson for Cornwall Council said: "Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, local authorities can restrict the distribution of free printed materials in designated areas.

Newquay town centre is the only area within Cornwall where the distribution of free printed material, such as flyers, leaflets, newspapers, stickers and branded food and drinks packaging, is currently controlled.

In March 2025, Cornwall Council received an application for consent to distribute free printed material within the town.

As per our policy, our licensing team consulted with police, the local town council, the local members at the time and other relevant services within the Council.

No concerns were raised and therefore the application was approved with our standard conditions, which are put in place to control littering."