Shopkeeper wins bid to sell booze after axe-throwing concerns

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A shopkeeper’s plan to sell alcohol at a new Caerphilly store has won over councillors, after a nearby axe-throwing business raised concerns the proposal was “appropriate” for the location.

RS United Groups is preparing to open a new shop at 6-8 Pontygwindy Road in the town, next to the existing Axcalibur axe-throwing venture.

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s licensing committee heard the applicants were “good family men” who “understand the importance of being a good neighbour”.

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Ian Rushton, representing the applicants, added they had invested heavily in the new premises – a former tanning salon – and planned to sell “a wide range” of goods, rather than focusing on alcohol.

But Alex and Lela Georgijev, who run Axcalibur, said their business had to abide by strict rules around making sure their customers were not impaired by drink.

“We have to physically assess whether [our customers] are fit for axe-throwing,” said Mrs Georgijev. “This is already a challenge – it may increase with that next door.”

The Georgijevs also alleged one of the applicants, Santhosh Ashireddy, had failed to meet some licence conditions attached to another premises in Cardiff.

Mr Rushton said “any breaches of licence conditions were put right immediately” in relation to that separate business.

Committee members also heard concerns from another local resident, Paul Griffiths, who complained about parking, antisocial behaviour and other issues he said were linked to shops and alcohol consumption in the area.

But Mr Rushton said the police would have assessed those matters, and added some of the resident’s complaints had nothing to do with the new licence application.

In their decision, members of the committee voted unanimously in favour of granting the premises licence, allowing for the sale of alcohol at the new store from 7am to 11pm daily.

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