STAFF at a newly opened Newport café based in a former public toilet are celebrating after gaining a licence to serve alcohol, despite opposition from some residents.

The Cafe at Ridgeway, boasting sweeping views from its beauty spot location next to Allt-yr-yn Avenue, offers paninis and sandwiches as well as tea and coffee but until today was not allowed to serve customers a cold beer.

Manager Bethan Barnfield said for business to really succeed, she needed to be able to offer people a glass of wine or bottle of beer they could enjoy with their meal or out in the sunshine.

It was part of her big plans for the little café, which include offering special events such as a tapas evening, gin tasting night and screenings of classic films such as Casablanca.

However, not all supported her application and more than ten people objected at the licensing committee meeting yesterday.

After deliberations with the panel, Chairman Cliff Suller granted the license to serve alcohol between noon-10pm, seven days a week.

One of the conditions imposed was that the patio area should not be used after 9pm and people should not be able to buy alcohol and take it away.

For example, if they opened a bottle of wine and couldn’t finish it, they would have to leave it at the café.

Ms Barnfield, a former management consultant who moved to Penllyn Avenue from Cardiff to pursue her dream of opening a café, said: “I’m really pleased and totally accept the conditions. I think they are fair. It’s very important to me that this business is successful.”

She has already taken on 12 local people to work in the café and told the committee her vision is for an up-market café, which would “not be like a Wetherspoons at all”.

However, some neighbours voiced concerns that a café serving alcohol could trigger anti-social behaviour.

They feared people could become rowdy, drop litter and even turn to urinating in the bushes as there is only one toilet at the café.

Alan Brown, speaking on behalf of all those objecting, said his 88-year-old mother lived nearby and would not “feel safe” if the café was serving alcohol.

He added there was no dedicated parking available and people would park either side of the road causing a potentially dangerous obstruction.

Gwent Police also raised concerns that any premises serving alcohol increased the risk of anti-social behaviour, although they said at the moment any problems in the area were negligible.

Speaking after the meeting, Alan Brown said he was disappointed with the decision, which could potentially see drunken people wandering from the patio towards where children played.

“We could have anti-social behaviour. The conditions don’t stop the sale of alcohol in an uncontrolled environment,” he said.

Several people commented on the Ridgeway Cafe Facebook page in support before the application was granted. Morwenna McDonnell wrote: “I’ll be all over the cocktails – I’ll say I’m going on a run then vanish for a couple of hours.

"It’s such an improvement on the derelict shelter that was there.”

And Andrew Phillips said: “I live directly opposite (literally) and can’t wait to bring the family in for a coffee or beer.”