South Pier distillery led “by the nose” over rejected gin-tasting plan

Thursday 03 February 2022

A South Pier-based distillery has been urged to find a new premises after its plans to expand into gin-tasting were unanimously rejected by the Planning Committee.

During yesterday's hearing, committee member Constable Marcus Troy strongly criticised Ports of Jersey for apparently leading the Channel Islands Liquor Company (CILC) "by the nose" over their expansion plans.

CILC, which renovated the ‘Old Sail Loft’ building on South Pier and reopened it as a distillery in November 2019, was seeking to change the use of part of the ground to host gin-tasting sessions.

The team previously successfully applied to turn part of the building into a shop. 

Pictured: The Channel Islands Liquor Company is based at the Old Sail Loft on South Pier. 

Presenting the application, Planning Officer Elizabeth Stables said the department had been consulted before by CILC back in 2019 and that it had been concluded no planning permission would be required to install a distillery in the building.

She said the Planning department recommended the new application to be refused as uses which are not port-related cannot be permitted within the Port of St. Helier Operational Area.

Dr Rhys Perkins, the Commodore for the St. Helier Yacht Club which counts around 3,000 members, said the club strongly objected to the plans as they didn’t comply with policies.

He described the addition of a shop and gin tastings to the distillery as a “cumulative change” which had moved the building a long way from its original purpose. “The tactic of incrementally altering the operation should be resisted,” he said.

Dr Perkins said parking was the main concern, as spaces are in constant use in the area.

He said it wasn’t credible for CILC to suggest most of its guests would not be using a car and rejected their suggestion that boats should be removed from the pier to make way for more cars. 

“Non boat user should not be occupying the site and incrementally changing the nature of the use,” he said. “Parking is already severely limited and [this application] will be to the detriment of the genuine port users.”

Chris Parlett, the Club’s former manager, added that parking had become increasingly difficult in recent years with the management of the Club having to become “unpaid parking wardens” to handle the complaints made “regularly and vociferously” by people unable to access their boats.

Jason Manning, the Club’s current Manager, questioned the toilet facilities available at the distillery as he said those attending events there had been using the ones in the club.  

Pictured: The Channel Islands Liquor Company wanted to host gin tastings at the distillery. 

Andrew Le Quesne noted the distillery’s team had previously said they wouldn’t host gin tastings or events but had since done so. 

“The claim they need to expand operations as a result of covid is not correct, it was part of their business plan from day one,” he added. “It’s a creeping evolution towards retail and towards becoming a pub or a gin bar… please refuse it.”

Simon Soar, the Head of Hospitality at Jersey Business, urged the committee to approve the plans, saying gin-tastings would fit the profile of tourists the island is aiming to attract and yield economic benefits.

He said the application was heavily supported as it featured “local homegrown produce” and would give people the opportunity to interact with it at production level.

A representative from DK Collins Marine, a boatyard based next to the distillery, said its installation had not caused any problems or affected the sales at the shop. 

Luke Wheadon, CILC's Managing Director, also addressed the committee. He said parking was the “hottest topic on the pier” but rejected the view that the distillery had exacerbated the issue. 

“We are a small local business with a small footprint,” he said.

He said a larger facility for the gin tastings would give attendees a better experience and urged the committee not to be swayed by “misconceptions”.

The members of the Planning Committee however unanimously rejected the plans.

Deputy Graham Truscott said that while he had been happy to agree to the small shop area, this new step was “going one step too far” and would intensify the use of the site.

Deputy Jeremy Maçon said the application was a difficult one as it involved “a small local business which is diversifying the economy and offering something different and diversifying the area” and a “really clear” policy. He said there was “no wiggle room” to support the plans and refused them.

Pictured: The Planning Officer said CILC's plans went against policies for the port area.

Constable Troy said he was a great supporter of hospitality, having worked many years in the trade. He then heavily criticised Ports of Jersey for the apparently “disgraceful” way they had dealt with Mr Wheadon.

“The applicant has been led around by the nose, it is a dreadful situation he finds himself in,” he said. “The situation of the long lease… it needs to be discussed at a later date and I’m happy to help.”

He urged Mr Soar to help Mr Wheadon find new premises, saying it was clear CILC needed to expand and get out of the lease, before adding that Ports of Jersey needed to be told off.

He also raised concerns about the dangers of mixing the machinery and lorries found around the pier with alcohol, saying: “it’s clear it doesn’t work."

Ports of Jersey said it wouldn't be appropriate to respond to the Constable's comments. They said CILC had been told by the Planning department that introducing "any public element" to the business would represent a change of use and require planning approval.

Deputy Steve Luce, who described himself as a great supporter of local produce, said the diversification of the economy was “absolutely to be welcomed”.

He however said he didn’t quite know “how we found ourselves in this position with Ports”.

He said allowing the application would set a precedent as it would transform the building into an event venue and said he was surprised non-maritime activity had been allowed in the first place.

“I can’t agree to go against policy and take it even further than where it should be,” he said. “Two wrongs do not make a right.”

Constable Philip Le Sueur, the Committee’s Chair, said the situation was “really unfortunate” and noted the magnificent effort CILC had made in renovating the building.

“The fact it can’t be opened up more wider is a great shame but the policy is quite clear,” he added.