A football golf attraction overlooking a Cornish beach has been granted a licence to sell alcohol, despite fears a customer could fall off the cliff.

Julie Whyte and Mark Hardman, who run the Jampen football golf, crazy golf and beach hut hire business at Porth Island, Alexandra Road, applied to Cornwall Council for a premises licence to sell alcohol in an area outside their café, with the possibility of screening films and holding acoustic music events for families in the future.

Mr Hardman told Cornwall’s Council’s licensing sub-committee they were applying for the licence following customers asking if they sold alcoholic drinks.

But councillor Joanna Kenny, the chairman of Newquay Town Council’s planning and licensing committee, highlighted that people had raised concerns about customers drinking alcohol on top of a steep cliff. 

Concerns were also raised about noise as the premises are near residential properties. 

The applicants were able to show that the licensed area would be adjacent to the café and not near the cliff. They stressed that a fence had been erected by the cliff-side boundary.

The licence was granted subject to any film screenings at Jampen being limited to a silent cinema.

Cllr Kenny said: “The licensing meeting hammered out the details of the award of an alcohol license to the Jampen café near Porth Island.   

“Newquay Town Council was happy to support what looks like a good little tourism business but had concerns that drinking might be allowed right up to the top of the steep hill, just too near the sheer drop into Whipsiderry – and a wide ask for “events” could have been disturbing for local residents.   

“There were oddly no photos of the area in the paperwork so, unusually, I was permitted to show some photos I took.

“It really helps to know what is being talked about.  

“The licensed area awarded is now a sensible space around the café, films were limited to a silent cinema and events in the more restricted licensed area would of necessity be limited in size. Which all matched the current business plan of the applicants. I wish them well.

Mr Hardman said: “Exciting news. We will soon be selling alcohol along with our beach huts, crazy golf, football golf and a lovely seating area overlooking the sea.

“Visitors, mainly dads, asked us numerous times last summer if they could have a pint with their chicken nuggets. It’s mainly families who visit us from the nearby beach.”

A spokesman for Cornwall Council said: “The applicant has stated there will be no adult entertainment or services, activities, other entertainment or matters ancillary to the use of the premises that may give rise to concern in respect of children.”