Application submitted to convert Restaurant 27 into convenience store with extended opening hours
The Italian restaurant, which closed in 2023, could become a convenience store
A former Michelin-listed restaurant is pencilled in to become a convenience store - but multiple objections have been lodged.
Restaurant 27, located in South Parade, Southsea, closed down in August 2023 after dishing up French cuisine for more than 15 years. The eatery, which featured in the Michelin guide, was owned and run by Kevin and Sophie Bingham who decided to leave the industry to spend more time with family after dedicating decades to the job.
Just over a year after the closure, the property was sold to private owners in May 2024, with the venue reopening six months later as an Italian restaurant and takeaway under the same name.
Restaurant 27 has since temporarily closed down after a premises licence variation application was submitted to the Portsmouth City Council on March 9, proposing the site is turned into a convenience store.
The application outlines plans to convert the site into a shop with a functioning kitchen, which will have a pasta and pizza food offering, a stockroom, and multipe shelving units.
Currently, the site opens between 5pm and 9pm Monday to Thursday and 12pm to 9.30pm Friday to Sunday. If the plans are approved, the convenience store will operate between 7am and 11pm seven days a week, and will sell alcohol during these extended hours for consumption on and off the premises.
In response to the application, a number of residents have raised objections with one person saying: “Having lived in Burgoyne Road since 2017 I believe I am well placed to offer the following comments in objection to the licence change application.
“There are two convenience stores at The Strand , so we are already well served and the seafront Co-Op is nearby. We simply don't need a store that can only bring inconvenience to residents if it opens at 7am and doesn't close until 11pm.
“The premises were run successfully as a small restaurant for 40+ years . These premises should remain as a restaurant . Please listen to the views of residents who understand the area and have a fair idea of what businesses will and will not work.”
Parking has also been raised as a concern by another member of the public as the road the restaurant is located on is subject to double yellow lines and limited parking.
Another person added: “An additional premises would not benefit residents but would likely increase street drinking, litter, broken glass, and noise, particularly during busy periods.Public safety is another concern. The area already experiences congestion, unsafe parking, and obstruction of pavements and crossings. Increased footfall and short-stay visits would exacerbate these risks, particularly for children and elderly residents.”
The application is currently open for consultation, with a decision expected in due course. For more information about the application, visit Portsmouth City Council’s licencing portal using the reference 26/01937/LAPREM
More updates to follow.