Ocean Adventurers soft play centre in Cheddar applies for alcohol licence

A children's soft play centre in Cheddar could soon start serving alcohol to its adult customers.

Ocean Adventurers Ltd, based on the Cheddar Business Park on Wedmore Road, currently remains closed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Company director Thomas Filer has applied for a licence which would allow the centre's cafe to serve alcohol to its customers, and for recorded music to be played.

Sedgemoor District Council will decide the fate of these proposals at a licensing panel hearing on Friday (August 7) following objections by the police and neighbouring businesses.

The soft play area is located in the south of the village, not far from the leisure centre and the Kings of Wessex Academy.

Under the proposals, alcohol would be sold for consumption solely on the premises between 9am and 8pm.

Mr Filer said in his application: "There is a significant precedent for the granting of alcohol premises licences for family entertainment centres in general and also for the sub-category of soft play centres.

"We are looking to adopt a similar model to the Web Adventure Park in York, which serves drinks in plastic cups in their indoor soft play for the safety of children.

"Any adult not properly supervising their children will be refused the sale of alcohol and may be asked to leave the premises."

Police inspector Joseph Piscina said he had a number of concerns about whether children's safety could be guaranteed if alcohol was being sold from the business.

He said: "Adults supervising children could be drinking and could potentially get drunk.

"This is different to a pub, which offers a place for children to play while the adults have a drink or something to eat in a separate area.

"The premises are on a business park that the majority of parents would need to drive to, and therefore this could undermine public safety with a higher risk of alcohol consumption before driving.

"Staff working at the premises should be supervising and maintaining the safety of children on the premises – not managing, observing and dealing with the results of alcohol being consumed and a possible lack of supervision by parents."

Andrew Jones, managing director of AutoMech Cheddar Ltd, said the proposal would result in more traffic on the already-congested roads within Cheddar's business parks and industrial estates.

He said: "On busy days and school holidays, the trading estates and the main roads are full of parked cars from families using Ocean Adventurers' facilities.

"This is not a playground – it's a commercial busy trading estate with heavy goods vehicles."

Both Cheddar Parish Council and the district council's own environmental health officer have also objected to the proposals.

The council's licensing panel will meet virtually on Friday (August 7) at 2.30pm to discuss the application in detail.