A St Andrews burger bar will be able to sell alcohol on-site, despite objections from local residents.
Blackhorn, on the town’s Church Street, will also be able to extend its opening hours following the decision by members of Fife’s licensing board.
The board made the decision despite nine public objections to the proposals, relating to noise, litter, illegal parking and its relationship with other businesses.
However, presenting his case to the board on Monday, the Blackhorn’s owner, Justin Hughes, tried to allay local fears and said that his enterprise would operate responsibly.
“We have no intention of becoming a late-night place but when looking at other restaurants, they are open later and people are still looking for food,” he said.
“We are not going to open up for the sake of it, we will open if there is a demand. We are trying to be a good local business.
“We want to be a community business but we feel that to succeed this licence would help us facilitate that.”
Mr Hughes stressed that although food was available for takeaway, alcohol would only be available for customers dining in.
However, John Watchman, the solicitor representing objectors, said that some residents had real concerns about the extension to opening hours and plan to sell alcohol.
“The nature of the proposed activities and the type of food on offer at the premises and the proposed hours at the Blackhorn restaurant and hot food takeaway, suggest a customer profiled predominantly, if not exclusively, in their teens and their 20s.”
“Clearly the proposed on sales liquor licensing hours would give rise to significant adverse impacts on neighbouring residents.”
However, councillor Andrew Rodger said that he could not agree with some of the objections, pointing to his own experience of the area.
”I can’t see where they are coming from,” he said. “I’ve never seen traffic coming to a halt through there and there are already a lot of takeaways in the area.
“There is a chip shop, a Chinese restaurant and noodle shop already all in this area.”