The owners of a coffee and cocktail bar are "delighted" to have opened its doors permanently in a market town after overcoming a licensing battle.
The Mayfair in Bungay, owned by Silas and Daisy Rayner, has reopened after being granted its full licence to open at a hearing with East Suffolk Council.
Its reopening follows a licensing saga at the end of last year when the bar's temporary licence was pulled by the council following complaints from neighbours.
Though the new licence was granted, to be able to open in the evenings the business owners are required to make some structural tweaks to the building which requires planning consent.
In the meantime, The Mayfair is open as a cafe between 10am and 6pm, serving, drinks, pastries and cakes.
Mr Rayner said: "I am delighted to be open, though mildly frustrated to only be open until 6pm - but focussing on the positives, I felt at some points as if this was never going to happen.
"Despite all of the boring bureaucracy, it has been really fun creating this beautiful space and we are incredibly proud of the result.
"I have been blown away by the support of the people in the town, it is incredibly flattering to feel that comfort."
READ MORE: Bar owner WINS licence fight despite urination and noise fears
The owners have exciting visions for the future and soon will be filing plans to make relevant alterations to the building in order for them to operate as a bar again, as per licencing rules.
"I cannot thank those who took the time to write to Bungay Town Council and East Suffolk Council to show their support for us, Mr Rayner said.
"We have really nice ideas for the future, it is all about using the space we have for the people of the town."
'BORING BUREAUCRACY'
The Mayfair, run by Silas and his wife Daisy Rayer - who are the founders of the popular festival Maui Waui - initially opened the business in December on a temporary licence.
It took a dramatic two-week period of 15-hour working days to transform the building into their desired business, which even had a Santa's Grotto in the back.
READ MORE: Bar to close TWO WEEKS after it opened after neighbour noise complaints
Finally on Friday, December 8, as planned, they opened the doors.
But two weeks to the day after it opened East Suffolk Council revoked the licence following noise complaints and the business was forced to close.
Mr and Mrs Rayner then filed to the council an application for a full licence.
After representations were made opposing the business, even from the Bungay Town Council, the decision on the licence was subject to a hearing.
There were 25 formal representations made in favour of The Mayfair coffee and cocktail bar having its licence approved and four objecting to it.
The meeting lasted over three hours as all the evidence was heard, councillors granted the licence.
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