Street food venue slammed as ‘daytime nightclub’ in wrong location

A Cornwall Council committee has agreed with residents that a street food business – described as an “alcohol-fuelled daytime nightclub” by an aggrieved neighbour – is in the wrong location, writes the Local Democracy Service.

Leandro Rodrigues had applied for a premises licence to provide live music between noon and 9.30pm and the sale of alcohol from noon to 9pm at EatTok3 in the former Tower Garage premises on Tower Road, Newquay, which is now operating as a “street food yard”.

Twenty people had complained about the application, which meant a licensing sub-committee met today (Wednesday, August 5) to consider the matter.

The representations described the premises as an “eyesore” with music being played at excessive volume, which attracted “rowdy customers” to a residential part of Newquay.

A resident wrote that EatTok’s customers drink and swear “in view of passers-by, residents and holidaymakers but most of all children which is totally unacceptable. This is not the image that Newquay should be portraying as you approach the town or your route to Fistral Beach.

“I thought Newquay and the council was trying to rid its previous reputation and that we had learnt from our past mistakes.”

EatTok3 is run by Mr Rodrigues, a Brazilian musician who told the meeting he had been signed to the Sony BMG record label and was now a social media influencer with over four million followers.

He said his burger and street food business was a safe, family-friendly and community-focused venue, where alcohol would only be served to complement food. Due to his musical experience, he would ensure noise was kept to a low level.

Mr Rodrigues added that EatTok3 was not intended to be a late-night venue or nightclub and the premises would close to the public by 9.30pm. Customers would be encouraged to leave quietly and respectfully.

However, other speakers were concerned. Cllr Joanna Kenny, representing Newquay Town Council, said the business was in a residential area and the council was worried about the impact on people living nearby, particularly on Tower Road and Hope Terrace.

She added that the number of residents who had made representations showed the strength of feeling locally.

Helen Ridge, who lives nearby, was concerned that shutters on the former garage premises would not be effective enough to keep the sound of music inside and she was worried about people leaving and congregating on what is “already quite a hazardous” road and junction.

Sean O’Brien, whose home directly overlooks EatTok3, said the business was “first promoted as a food hub but it soon descended into an alcohol-fuelled daytime nightclub on temporary licences with various DJs playing music at deafening volumes that prevented us from opening our windows or sitting on our terrace”.

He said the large industrial roller shutters on the entrance to the building have been left open allowing music to blare on to the street and could be heard up to half a mile away.

“It’s not appropriate to have this sort of venue smack in the middle of our neighbourhood,” added Mr O’Brien, who had complained to the council about the noise.

Another resident, Ruth Wilde, said Mr Rodrigues’ aims for a business that supports the community were “very laudable” but argued it was in the wrong part of Newquay.

She said EatTok3 was attracting crowds to the corner of Tower Road, a residential area not compatible with such a business. “This is completely changing our enjoyment of our homes.”

Following deliberations in private, the licensing sub-committee agreed with the residents and refused the application.

Members noted that the premises is in a residential area with houses in very close proximity and the likelihood of public nuisance occurring was high. They were not satisfied that Mr Rodrigues had demonstrated how he would control the noise from the premises.

They felt it was not an appropriate location to sell alcohol and were very concerned about the road layout outside EatTok3. The councillors were of the view that it was the wrong location for such a business.