The Licensing Panel of West Oxfordshire Council met on Thursday 30 July 2026 to consider two applications for new premises licences. The panel granted a licence for The Duchess in Clanfield, subject to conditions, and also granted a licence for Budgens in Woodstock, with reduced hours for alcohol sales.

The Duchess, Clanfield

The panel considered an application for a new premises licence for The Duchess, located at Bampton Road, Clanfield, made by The Double Red Clanfield Limited. The application was for a licence to sell alcohol and provide late-night refreshment for residents and their bona fide guests, with applied-for hours including 24-hour alcohol sales and late-night refreshment between 11pm and 5am.

Representations were received from local residents, including Sally Owen and Councillor Alaric Smith, who raised concerns about potential public nuisance, noise, and the definition of bona fide guests. The applicant, represented by Neil McCann of Keystone Law Solicitors and Adam Smith, the Assistant General Manager of The Double Red Duke, proposed several conditions to address these concerns. These included removing the request for late-night refreshment, limiting bona fide guests to one per resident, and implementing conditions regarding CCTV, incident logs, and no noise generated on the premises.

Following discussions and consideration of the evidence, the panel decided to grant the licence. The decision was based on the operating schedule, with the addition of specific conditions: the sale of alcohol would be restricted to residents and one bona fide guest per resident, and no drinks would be permitted in outside areas after 11pm. The panel noted the applicant's commitment to community relations and the existing powers to review the licence if necessary.

Budgens Store, Wincott Square, Woodstock

The panel also considered an application for a new premises licence for Budgens, located at Wincott Square, Woodstock, made by Shun Retail Store Limited. The application sought permission to sell alcohol for off-premises consumption between 6am and 11pm, seven days a week, with the store also open for general retail during these hours.

The application received numerous objections from local residents and Woodstock Town Council, primarily focusing on the proposed hours for alcohol sales. Concerns were raised about the potential for public nuisance, crime and disorder, and the protection of children from harm, given the premises' location within a residential development, close to playgrounds, a nursery, and residential flats. Objectors argued that the proposed hours were excessive for the area and would lead to increased noise, litter, loitering, and anti-social behaviour.

The applicant, represented by Naga Rajesh, a licensing consultant, and Jeyasothy Jeyaalan, the applicant and a director of Shun Retail Store Limited, argued that the store would serve the local community and that the proposed hours were necessary for operational reasons. They highlighted that responsible authorities, including Thames Valley Police, had not objected.

After hearing representations from all parties, the panel decided to grant the licence but with significantly reduced hours for alcohol sales. The decision was to permit alcohol sales from 6am to 9pm, aligning with the store's general opening hours. The panel acknowledged the concerns raised by residents regarding the original proposed hours and welcomed the applicant's willingness to reduce them. They also noted the applicant's commitment to staff training, CCTV, and incident logs, and encouraged ongoing community dialogue. The panel reiterated that issues such as traffic and parking were matters for planning legislation, not licensing.