Late-night booze plan at Tangent Brewing Company in Yate sparks fears of 'party venue'

The small brewery wants to serve beer later into the night

A Yate microbrewery’s bid to serve alcohol late into the night has drawn fire from the town council, which warns the site could 'easily become a party venue' if a new licence is granted.

The proposal from Tangent Brewing Company would allow on-site drinking until 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays - despite the brewery being located in the heart of an industrial estate.

Tangent Brewing Company Limited, based at 55 Waverley Road, has applied for a premises licence permitting both on and off-site alcohol sales.

The application proposes alcohol sales from 9am to 5pm Monday to Thursday, with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays to accommodate public access and events.

It notes that weekday hours would primarily serve online sales, with no public access during those times.

The brewery describes its premises as 'used by Tangent Brewing Company, a micro-brewery, registered for the production of beer and wine by HMRC'. The site includes brewing facilities, a kitchen, office space, and areas for tasting and events.

To support its case, Tangent Brewing has outlined a series of measures to uphold the four licensing objectives. These include CCTV installation, staff training on age verification, noise management strategies, and a strict Challenge 25 policy. “We are confident that our measures will effectively and responsibly promote these objectives,” the application states.

No objections were raised by any of the responsible authorities. Avon & Somerset Police agreed not to object after the brewery accepted a list of enforceable conditions, including pre-booking for all tasting events, a cap of 20 guests for such events, restrictions on outdoor drinking, and clear signage to minimise noise.

The Public Health Authority made several recommendations—including restricted rubbish collection hours and enhanced staff training—but did not oppose the application.

A single objection from Yate Town Council has prompted concern. While supporting daytime and online sales, the objector opposed the late-night weekend openings, stating: “We do have concerns regarding the on-site sales continuing until 11.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays as the location is within the industrial estate… this could easily become a party venue with no further regulation needed.”

The Licensing Sub-Committee is set to hear the application on Thursday, June 5. Councillors will decide whether to grant the licence as requested, apply further conditions, or reject it in part or in full. The decision will hinge on whether the proposals adequately promote the statutory licensing objectives, including public safety and the prevention of public nuisance.

If approved, the move could signal a bold expansion for the local brewery, but not without potential tensions with neighbouring businesses and the wider community.