THE premises licence for a Lichfield business could be revoked after officials claimed it had shown a “complete disregard” for permitted opening hours.
Betsy’s, at Bore Street, is currently allowed to operate between 7.30am and 11pm Sunday to Thursday, and from 7.30am to 2am on Friday and Saturday, with takeaway hatch service only after 11pm.
But an environmental health official at Lichfield District Council said the business had shown a “complete disregard” for licensing rules.
A report to a meeting of the local authority’s licensing and appeals sub-committee on 7th September said:
“The premises has, for a long period of time, consistently operated beyond the hours for which it is licensed. The business has received several verbal and written warnings about this, yet persisted in opening beyond the hours covered by the licence.
“They have advertised on their own website that they are open seven days a week from 9.30am to 5am the following morning. These hours are consistent with those listed on Google and food delivery apps.
“Following the warning, the advertised opening hours were changed to Monday to Sunday from 9.30am to 2am which is still not correct.
“The requirement to only served from the hatch after 11pm has been ignored, with customers found on the premises beyond this time. On 27th April at 12.12am, an environmental health officer entered as there were people being served hot food inside.”
The council said further test purchases had taken place in June and July beyond the permitted opening hours.
The premises has also seen other issues, including the discovery in May 2025 that eight people were living above the shop on makeshift beds, despite planning permission for conversion to residential accommodation being refused in April 2024.
The council added that the business had been given “several warnings” about litter, with environmental health officers consider serving a community protection issue to tackle the issue.
“The business has shown complete disregard for the licensing objectives, the terms of their premises licence and other legislation that seeks to protect the public.
“Environmental health has no confidence that the licence-holder has any intention of complying with the law and the existing controls already imposed. Therefore, as a responsible authority, it is requested that the premises licence be revoked.”
