A couple have been granted their “dream” to open a new tea room and wine bar in St Ives.

Shane Fazackerley said it had been his and his wife’s dream to open a tea room and said they hoped to address a gap in the market in the town.

The new tea room and wine bar is due to open in a former Italian restaurant in 22 Bridge Street.

Mr Fazackerley said they will aim to offer people a “relaxing atmosphere” for people to enjoy, and will bring the empty restaurant back into use.

However, concerns about the new tea room and wine bar had been raised by some of the neighbours.

Two objections were lodged with Huntingdonshire District Council against the new business being granted a premises licence.

Mr Fazackerley had applied for a licence to be able to sell alcohol and to play music in the new tea room and wine bar.

One neighbour said he had particular concerns about the business allowing people to sit in the courtyard area out the back of the building.

Thomas Smith told councillors at a licensing sub-committee meeting this week (April 18) that he was worried about the impact on his privacy.

He said: “I do not take issue with what goes on inside the main building, the issue is the use of the open area at the rear of the property.

“This area is directly out the back of my house. My issue is with anything to encourage members of the public to congregate, sit, gather, and talk in this area.

“The issue is regardless of alcohol, but I consider alcohol to be an aggravating factor.”

Mr Smith also raised concerns about people potentially smoking in the outside area and the smoke then drifting into his home through his windows and vents.

He told councillors that he believed the use of the courtyard area would have a “detrimental impact” on his quality of life, wellbeing, and mental health.

Mr Fazackerley said there would be no smoking allowed in the outside area, and said only a small number of people would ever be seated out there.

He also said he had already installed a screen to protect Mr Smith’s privacy after discussing his concerns with him.

Mr Fazackerley said: “We have taken over the premises in Bridge Street, which has been shut for quite a while.

“Our intent is to make it into a tea room primarily, with alcohol served Friday and Saturday night looking to act as a wine bar.

“I have worked in the wine industry for 35 years and still work in the industry on a consultant basis, I have quite a lot of knowledge in that area.

“We are going to be mainly looking to attract people 45 years plus, not looking at attracting younger customers.

“We feel there is a gap in the market in St Ives, particularly for older couples looking for that more relaxed atmosphere, with subtle music, jazz being played, it will be a place for people to come and relax.

“It will be very different to some of the other establishments on the street.”

Mr Fazackerley explained that they were planning to allow up to eight to 10 people to be seated in the back courtyard.

He said: “We feel there will not be a lot of noise coming from that area as the clients looking to use the area are older people, not younger people standing around drinking and getting riotous, it will be quite a relaxed atmosphere.

“We have really made this area almost like a secret garden, it has now been astroturfed and it should look really nice and be quite unique for the area.

“This is something my wife has dreamed of to have a tea room.

“She has been involved in fashion design in China and also involved in food.

“It has been a dream of ours and in our mind’s eye it is more of a tea room than a bar.

“It is our dream and I think it will add to the economy in St Ives, as I think there is a gap there.”

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The licensing officer told the meeting that additional conditions had been agreed with the police, who had therefore not raised any concerns about the new business.

After considering the application and the objections lodged, the sub-committee announced it would be granting the licence.

Councillors said they believe the additional conditions agreed with police addressed many of the neighbour’s concerns.

The sub-committee did add some new conditions to the licence, including that no one should be allowed to smoke in the outside area, and that customers should not be seated out in the courtyard after 9pm on a Friday and Saturday.