Samy Group has continued its winning streak after gaining permission from Cornwall Council to sell alcohol around the clock at a forecourt the firm acquired in September.
Samy began to make use of the £15m funding package it secured earlier in the year from HSBC with the purchase of the Probus School Filling Station, a site that was described as “highly profitable” when it was advertised for £2.75m as a retirement sale.
After taking possession Samy implemented 24-opening at the site, which lies just outside Truro, but the firm lacked permission to sell alcohol during overnight periods.
Samy’s application to Cornwall Council for a 24-hour alcohol licence met with resistance from some local residents, who lodged objections about a potential increase in noise levels and anti-social behaviour, and voiced concerns that the extended alcohol hours was out of keeping with the site’s village setting.
The firm’s owner, Mohan Palanisamy, appeared at the council’s licensing subcommittee where he told members: “We don’t want troublemakers to come to our store, and will be seriously concerned about that side of things.”
Palanisamy had previously agreed, after consulting with local police, that if only one member of staff is on duty overnight the site’s doors will be locked, with sales conducted through a night hatch.
The company was also represented at the subcommittee hearing by Robert Botkai, a solicitor with significant expertise in licensing matters and regular contributor to Forecourt Trader.
Botkai highlighted that Samy Group, which operates around 68 forecourts and convenience stores, has never had an alcohol licence reviewed or revoked.
Addressing concerns that the 24-hour licence would increase visitors to the site, Botkai said: “We don’t believe this will become a destination for people who otherwise wouldn’t be coming to the village – it’s more a facility for anyone who may be passing by, or neighbours.”
He added that because the forecourt already opens on a 24-hour basis, “we will have vehicle movements whether we have an alcohol licence or not…so the question for you would be: is there going to be more door slamming, more conversations with shouting if we’ve got everything for sale?…We would submit that it’s in no way a noisier activity”.
Cornwall Council granted a 24-hour alcohol licence for the Probus site, while on the same day the licensing subcommittee met, Samy Group won Convenience Chain of the Year at the Asian Trader Awards.
