A new high-end wine bar will come to a popular city street despite concern it may give rise to drunk people gathering outside.
Licensing permission was granted for the establishment at an Oxford City Council sub-committee meeting on April 30, for North Parade in Oxford.
The avenue is a one-way street which has the city centre to the south and Summertown to the north and already contains a few pubs and restaurants.
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Marston councillor Mary Clarkson, who was chairing the licensing meeting, said: "A few objectors came along who were worried about an intensification of drinking establishments in the area.
Mary Clarkson
"There were some questions about the disposal of bottles and concerns about people going outside and blocking the pavement."
Ms Clarkson, a 'Heritage Champion' said the applicant had made it clear it was "quite a small place" and not just a wine bar but a "sort of wine library".
The Labour councillor added: "You go in and learn about wine - there is lots of tasting.
"It's not the kind of place where people will go and stand outside.
"We did give permission and I think we addressed most of the concerns."
North Parade.
A condition attached to the application includes no drinking permitted outside.
North Parade is a semi-pedestrianised area and has been described as "one of the most interesting little streets in Oxford."
A change in shopping habits has seen the transformation of many premises into restaurants from local shops.
Ms Clarkson said the purpose of the licensing sub-committee was to say whether the application entailed acceptable use rather than determining whether the council wanted to have a different kind of shop.
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