DRINKS licences for two Dorset arts venues will be decided in the coming week.

An application for a Premises Licence for the foyer of the Lyme Regis cinema and the Sherborne House arts centre in Sherborne, have both attracted objections.

Dorset councillors will meet on Thursday 21st to decide whether the objections warrant a refusal in either case.

Three people lodged objections to the proposed late finishing time at Sherborne House, of up to 1.30am on some days, with a complaint also made that the application had not been properly advertised.

At Lyme Regis Pure Milk Vodka from Childhay Manor has applied for a premises licence for the foyer of the Regent Cinema in Broad Street to run a pop-up Black Cow Bar in the currently unused cinema.

The licence asks for live and recorded music and the sale of alcohol every day up until 11pm.

The application has also attracted three public comments – including a collated response from several people in support of the application.

Two objectors say they fear there could be a public nuisance by opening the bar and have also raised concerns about planning issues, although they will not be heard by the licensing committee when it meets in Dorchester.

One property owner, who says there is family use of the premises for eight months of the year, claims the bar would create a “major noise nuisance” and change the character of the top end of Broad Street from being a quiet residential part of the town.

“If this application is granted it will set a dangerous precedent for the commercial development of other properties in the top of the town. Even listed buildings do not seem immune from insensitive development on the lines planned by Black Cow Vodka. If granted, this will undermine the local planning system in its duty to protect residential neighbourhoods and historic listed buildings,” said the letter to the licensing panel.