The licensing panel heard Must & Lees wants to use the space, pictured, for the ‘retail of fine wines and to offer accredited Wine & Spirit Education Trust – WSET – courses and specialist wine tasting courses to small groups’

A NEW tasting school aimed at creating wine connoisseurs has been cleared to open despite concerns that the operation will disturb families nearby.

Entrepreneur Chris Cassell told a licensing committee that there will be a strong focus on education at his business Must & Lees’s outlet, planned for a former bakery at 57 Warren Street, and he has taken steps to ensure he does not fall out with his neighbours.

“I love wine, an understanding of wine can lead you into geography and different cultures,” Mr Cassell told the panel on the Camden side of the borough boundaries.

Some residents had objected, warning that the street had become increasingly noisy as new venues had opened.

Victoria Swift said Warren Street has “a ‘canyon effect’ where noise at ground level becomes amplified at the floors above.

“Even small numbers of people are able to make an impact due to the nature of the environment, those under the influence of alcohol are prone to become even noisier and inconsiderate,” she said

David McAllister, who lives nearby, said with 10 licensed venues on the street “another licensed property on the street is not necessary nor desirable.”

But Marc Finney wrote to the council in support and said it “will add to the character of the improving area and by occupying the building with a suitable use it will prevent degradation from an empty building which might attract anti-social behaviour”.

He said the applicants “have given good regard to how the premises will be operated and have proposed good measures to ensure the premises will be well run.”

Linus Rees, the editor of Fitzrovia News, spoke on behalf of residents in a flat above, as well as the Charlotte Street Association. He said the wine tasting classes in the basement were unlikely to have much impact but feared a wine bar could disturb residents.

“I think it’s wholly unsuitable to have a wine bar in the premises,” he said. It is inevitable that with a wine bar there will be some kind of nuisance.”

He asked the council to reject requests to sell alcohol for on-sales “to balance the interests of expected business activity with the right of nearby residents to the quiet enjoyment of their homes”. Mr Rees also suggested banning customers drinking wine outside.

Mr Cassell said outdoor tables would close earlier than indoors to avoid disturbing residents.

He said: “I have gone for timings that are significantly lower than everyone else on the street,” he said.

The latest closing hour would be at 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays. “We focus on wine education and we have an absolute zero tolerance on drunkenness,” said Mr Cassell.

And he added that the venue would also have spittoons so people can taste wine responsibly, and offer free water. Deliveries would be limited to daytimes.

Camden’s licensing committee unanimously approved the application.