Freshwater Gate Café Granted Full Premises Licence

A seaside café on the Isle of Wight, described as a hub to “meet, refuel and explore”, has been granted a full premises licence.

County Hall approved an application from Isle of Wight Bars for the Freshwater Gate café, located opposite the Albion Hotel on Gate Lane.

The venue will be licensed to open from 8am to 10.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Six conditions are attached to the licence, covering areas such as the sale of alcohol, record keeping, and ensuring consideration for local residents, according to the Isle of Wight Council’s website.

In its application, Isle of Wight Bars said the licence would provide flexibility to maintain the premises, create jobs, and offer alcoholic refreshments to customers and visitors.

It also confirmed that any alcohol sold for consumption off-site would be served in reusable polycarbonate containers.

Reacting on social media, the café described the decision as “very cool news” and said there are “great times ahead”.

As part of the application, the company outlined several measures to support licensing objectives, including staff training on conflict management and responsible alcohol sales, managing smoking and outdoor areas, and carrying out routine litter checks.

Further commitments include displaying signage asking customers to respect neighbours and leave quietly, maintaining clear evacuation procedures, and regularly monitoring noise levels.