Bohemia Village Voice  Bohemia Village Voice

For bohemians everywhere

Do we need another Offie?

Marys Foodmarket in Norman Road - do we need another in Bohemia?

Marys Foodmarket in Norman Road - do we need another in Bohemia?

Will Mary’s Foodmarket return to Bohemia? Rumour has it that the owner of the mini-supermarket and off-licence in Norman Road, St Leonards,  has his eyes set on taking over the old  ‘Lullabuys’ shop in Bohemia Road. A notice fixed to the front of the old pram shop provides a partial answer:

“Licensing Act 2003 Site Notice of Application for Premises Licence. This notice is to advise that on Friday 21 20 [presumably ‘2006’] July an application for a Premises Licence for the premises known as premises name: Bohemia Foodmarket, address 68-70 Bohemia Road, St Leonards-on-Sea TN37 6RQ was made by MASOOD IQBAL for the following activities: supply of alcohol by retail for consumption of [presumably ‘off’] the premises. Any person wishing to make representations about this application should write to Hastings Borough Council, Executive Director, Environment & Safety, Century House, 100, Menzies Road, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN38 9BB, within twenty eight consecutive days from the date of the application shown above (www.hastings.gov.uk). It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with an application & a person is liable to a fine of up to a maximum of £6,000 on summary conviction for the offence.”

Some reactions from local residents and groups:

Bill Third (resident of St Peter’s Road) Yes, it’s Masood Iqbar who used to own ‘Mary’s Foodmarket’ in Bohemia Road. For a food market, it sold a lot of booze and presumably it will be the same at the Bohemia Foodmarket. We don’t need another booze outlet in Bohemia. There are two off licences already within 50 metres – Alldays & News & Booze. We also have four pubs. I intend to object and I know that some of the existing shopkeepers will to. Please use your newsletter to publicise this and stop this retrograde development.

Dave Kent (Cloudesley Road resident): I’ve always found Mr Iqbal very pleasant and he seems to employ pleasant staff. Were you expecting a rant of the "Wogs aht!" variety? He used

to run a Mary’s Foodmarket where Alldays / Co-op is now, did he not?

Daniel Poulter (Conservative councillor for Gensing): My initial thoughts are that as far as I am aware, ‘the pram shop has been in Bohemia for many years and it is a great shame to see specialist and established local businesses disappear.’

Louise Sadler  (Partner, GL Sanctuary, Health & Beauty Salon, next door to the proposed off-licence): I feel that a ‘good’ (and hopefully it will be) supermarket which might possibly sell some decent quality fruit and veg could be a boon for Bohemia Village. The fact that it may sell alcohol doesn’t worry me unduly as I believe that Alldays, together with Tesco and the Co-op in Silverhill already do.

Bohemia Area Association: was asked for comment but none had been received at the time of going to press.

Masood Iqbal (owner, Mary’s Foodmarket in Norman Road): an attempt was made to speak to Mr Iqbal, who was not at his St Leonards’ premises. “We cannot give you his telephone number,” said a woman working there.

 

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