Brighton Hairdresser’s Wine Club Plan Faces Licensing Objections

A Brighton hairdresser’s bid to serve wine with haircuts – and sell bottles for customers to take home – has run into formal objections ahead of a licensing hearing next week.

Jonathan Harries, who runs Shine on Gloucester Road, has applied for an alcohol licence from 10am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, matching his salon’s opening hours.

He hopes to launch a small “wine club”, offering clients a glass during appointments and the option to buy a bottle to take away.

But Sussex Police, Brighton & Hove City Council’s licensing team, and Green councillor Sue Shanks have all objected.

The salon sits within the North Laine “cumulative impact zone”, where new off-licences are generally discouraged due to existing high levels of crime and anti-social behaviour.

Councillor Shanks said:

“This area already has many off-licences… It’s possible this will add to public nuisance.”

Inspector Ben Morrison highlighted 280 crimes linked to Gloucester Road in the past year, including 93 violent incidents and 74 thefts.

He said the applicant’s proposed conditions did not meet the city’s current standards and warned that more alcohol availability could “add to existing issues”.

Council officers have also objected on policy grounds.

Mr Harries says Shine – which has been trading for 18 years – would offer “exclusive wines” not available in supermarkets, sold only to salon clients or members of a proposed wine club.

He said:

“The council seems fine with on-sales, but they’re not keen on off-sales because of the area. I’ve suggested only selling wine to members – no walk-ins.”

All sales would be wine only, at around £13 a bottle, with no alcohol advertised outside the business.

The licensing panel will consider the application at an online hearing at 10am on Tuesday 2 December.