A NUMBER of businesses on St Ives’ harbour front have objected to a bar and restaurant’s proposal to keep bench tables on the pavement, saying they cause chaos and are ruining trade.

A Cornwall Council committee will meet on Monday, November 2 to decide if the Balcony Bar And Kitchen on Wharf Road will still be granted a pavement licence for three four-seater benches on the street.

Any premises selling food or drink, including pubs, cafés, bars, restaurants and ice cream parlours, are able to apply to use space outside their business to place furniture on the highway for food/drink consumption. The highway land has to be adjacent or very near to the premises.

David Fox, of the Balcony Bar And Kitchen, has held a pavement licence since November 1, 2024. The current licence is due to expire on Saturday (October 31) and a decision has to be made by the end of working hours on Monday, November 2.

The council’s highways department doesn’t object. However, eight businesses do, including Harbour Amusements and many of those trading in the neighbouring Harbour Galleries complex.

Comments by the eight complainants, who have not been named on the licensing agenda report, include: “The litter and other filth generated is disgusting and is often left for a considerable time, dreadful for my business and the general appearance of the harbour front. I highly doubt that the advantage generated by these tables exceeds the damage done to my business and the other six businesses in the Harbour Galleries building.”

“The tables were placed in front of the entrance to Harbour Amusements, creating an obstruction to our business and making our parking space inaccessible. The pavement [licence] has caused us to have concern for our staff and customers. If it is renewed we will have to take legal advice.”

“Obstructing the entrances in any way is very detrimental to our businesses. As a business rates payer I am very unhappy that the tables have been allowed to remain affecting my business for so long already.”

“I strongly object to this being allowed, or renewed, as the tables there cause chaos and obstruction to the public path. Pedestrians are struggling to get past the people, pushchairs, dogs sitting at these tables making it unsafe to manoeuvre around. Along with the food left out encouraging seagulls and rats.”

“Sometimes, particularly in the evenings and with sporting events screened in the bar, the crowds on and around these tables are very drunk, very loud and exhibit what can only be described as antisocial behaviour. My manager recently had to close our premises early due to his fears of the crowd outside on the tables.”

“As we are a neighbouring business, we would like to protest the application. The picnic tables firstly block the pavement and force the ice cream queue to completely and regularly block our front entrance. This is damaging to our business. When the queue runs across our front entrance it additionally forces pedestrians into the road.”

“The biggest issue is a continuous queue completely blocking our front entrance thus affecting trade during the summer months. I highly object to these tables being granted another year.”

“I work at a neighbouring gallery and the existing pavement seating arrangements have a direct and detrimental impact on access to our premises and the operation of our businesses. I therefore request that the council refuses the renewal in its current form.”

The application was received on October 5 and must be determined on Monday. If it is not decided by then, the application will be automatically deemed granted. A Cornwall Council licensing sub-committee will meet at 10am on Monday to consider the application.