PLANS by a popular seafood restaurant to change its layout have come under fire from almost 100 people who have written to Cornwall Council in opposition.

The Beach House, which overlooks Swanpool beach on the outskirts of Falmouth, has applied for a variation in its licence to allow for an external bar among other changes.

The council’s licensing department has received letters from 93 residents who are concerned it will lead to additional noise and anti-social behaviour. Tamara Costin and William Speed, the owners of Flushing’s Harbour House, bought the former Hooked On The Rocks restaurant in Swanpool in October last year.

Ms Costin has applied to amend the layout of the premises to reconfigure the internal area, add an awning to the main building to include bar servery and the addition of an external bar in the lower terrace, which the couple’s solicitor says was installed by the previous owners.

The Beach House has agreed to conditions that the external bar will close no later than 11pm, it will be supervised at all times when in use and will be inaccessible to customers when not in use to ensure they do not have access to any alcohol. There would be no changes to the hours for licensable activities.

As well as the 93 letters of objection to the changes, the council has received 13 letters of support.

Comments from those against include: “We wish to object in the strongest possible way. This will cause a public nuisance not only to the residents of Swanpool but anyone living between Swanpool and Falmouth with drunken rowdy people returning home near midnight.”

“This application is entirely unsuitable in an area that is widely recognised for its quiet and beautiful beach and has for these reasons been enjoyed by families for many decades. To change the ambience in such a drastic way in a residential setting which is in a recognised area of outstanding natural beauty is totally unacceptable. We urge you to reject this application and put the wishes of locals and residents before the commercial interests of the new owners of the Beach House.”

“In recent months the Beach House have had a DJ with very large speakers playing very loud music throughout the day and evening, and it is our understanding that they wish to continue doing this. We are concerned that this will completely and permanently change this quiet and safe neighbourhood into a potentially unsavoury area, which can then spill over onto the adjacent beach and around the local homes.”

Among the letters in support of the changes, a Falmouth resident wrote: “I think this is a great idea and is exactly the sort of investment and enhancement that Falmouth and its surrounding areas need. What a fantastic place to sit and unwind with friends and isn’t it great that local businesses are willing and able to invest and develop their premises and propositions in this way.”

Ewen Macgregor, solicitor for the Beach House, also wrote to the council stating that the previous owners had installed the external bar without approval. “My client acquired the Beach House in October 2024. Since acquiring the premises, it became apparent that the previous operators of the premises had not only carried out alterations to the main building but had also installed a bar on the external terrace of the premises.

“It is also our understanding that the external bar was first installed in April 2021 and has operated, for the sale and supply of alcohol, since that time, without issue or complaint. It is regrettable that the previous owners of the premises did not seek approval of the changes at the time. However, having had these changes brought to their attention, my client has immediately sought to correct the oversight of the previous operator.”

He added: “Following discussions with the council it was agreed that the above changes could be dealt with by way of minor variation, which was subsequently submitted. This application drew representations and, in these circumstances, there is no right to a hearing. As such the application was refused without consideration of the material issues. Therefore, the application for a full variation of the licence was submitted.”

That application will be decided at an extraordinary meeting of Cornwall Council’s licensing committee on Thursday, August 28.

The restaurant hit the headlines in April when a group of up to 20 locals raised concerns with the owners and Cornwall Council after a signpost leading to the beach appeared to have been moved soon after the new owners took over. Mr Speed, the restaurant’s co-owner, admitted he’d moved the sign to prevent confusion over the route. It was later returned to its original position.