A CORNWALL Council committee has agreed with residents that a street food business – described as an “alcohol-fuelled daytime nightclub” by an aggrieved neighbour – is in the wrong location.

Leandro Rodrigues had applied for a premises licence to provide live music between noon and 9.30pm and the sale of alcohol from noon to 9pm at EatTok3 in the former Tower Garage premises on Tower Road, Newquay, which is now operating as a “street food yard”.

Twenty people had complained about the application, which meant a licensing sub-committee met on Wednesday, August 5 to consider the matter.

The representations described the premises as an “eyesore” with music being played at excessive volume, which attracted “rowdy customers” to a residential part of Newquay.

A resident wrote that EatTok’s customers drink and swear “in view of passers-by, residents and holidaymakers but most of all children which is totally unacceptable. This is not the image that Newquay should be portraying as you approach the town or your route to Fistral Beach.

“I thought Newquay and the council was trying to rid its previous reputation and that we had learnt from our past mistakes.”

EatTok3 is run by Mr Rodrigues, a Brazilian musician who told the meeting he had been signed to the Sony BMG record label and was now a social media influencer with over four million followers. He said his burger and street food business was a safe, family-friendly and community-focused venue, where alcohol would only be served to complement food. Due to his musical experience, he would ensure noise was kept to a low level.

Mr Rodrigues added that EatTok3 was not intended to be a late-night venue or nightclub and the premises would close to the public by 9.30pm. Customers would be encouraged to leave quietly and respectfully.

However, other speakers were concerned. Cllr Joanna Kenny, representing Newquay Town Council, said the business was in a residential area and the council was worried about the impact on people living nearby, particularly on Tower Road and Hope Terrace.

Helen Ridge, who lives nearby, was concerned that shutters on the former garage premises would not be effective enough to keep the sound of music inside and she was worried about people leaving and congregating on what is “already quite a hazardous” road and junction.

Sean O’Brien, whose home directly overlooks EatTok3, said the business was “first promoted as a food hub but it soon descended into an alcohol-fuelled daytime nightclub on temporary licences with various DJs playing music at deafening volumes that prevented us from opening our windows or sitting on our terrace”.

Resident Ruth Wilde, argued the business was in the wrong part of Newquay stating: “This is completely changing our enjoyment of our homes.”

The licensing sub-committee agreed with the residents and refused the application. Members noted that the premises is in a residential area with houses in very close proximity and the likelihood of public nuisance occurring was high. They were not satisfied that Mr Rodrigues had demonstrated how he would control the noise from the premises.