Anger over licencing bid for new restaurant near Beccles

Edge, a new restaurant concept based at Noko Retreats in Ringsfield, near Beccles, recently opened its doors to welcome visitors for the first time.

It comes after permission for a scheme of ten holiday homes and a shop was first granted in 2011.

Initially locals welcomed the plans but now they say the completed project has gone far beyond what they originally thought.

The upmarket restaurant opened its doors last week (Image: Rachel Ducker)

The situation has left them gearing up for a fresh fight after a new application was submitted for a premises licence - something locals say they only found out about after notices were pinned in nearby bushes.

If approved, this would allow alcohol to be served late into the night and live music performances could take place until midnight on certain days at the upmarket venue.

Bill Moore, 90, who served in the RAF before spending more than 25 years with the Metropolitan Police, has lived in the village for nearly 50 years.

Mr Moore, whose home neighbours the site, said: "It's such close proximity to houses, you're going to have possibly a hundred people coming out, and where will all those vehicles park? All the vehicles are going to have to be on the road.

Locals only found out about the bid after notices were pinned in nearby bushes (Image: Victoria Humphrey)

"You can imagine how dangerous the parking is going to be - there have already been eight accidents at that nearby junction.

"They had a big reception recently, and they all came out at 1am. The noise is too much. Outdoor music is what concerns people, and it echoes across the green."

When the plans were initially approved, locals say the development was presented as a low-impact addition to the village in the form of an artificial lake and accompanying lodges.

The new venue is accessed off Church Road in Ringsfield (Image: Victoria Humphrey)

Over time, concerns have grown as the scheme has moved further away from expectations, culminating in a high-end destination venue rather than a traditional village café or shop.

The site has been the source of disagreement for years, with a similar community push in 2023 after villagers successfully opposed plans to increase the height of the holiday lodges from one storey to two storeys after the developer withdrew the plans.

Noko retreats is opening soon (Image: Supplied)

One resident, who asked to be referred to only as Anita, lives nearby and is in favour of the new café and restaurant - but added she has concerns over the late hours.

"It is a worry for people in the village," she said. "I think it looks very lovely, and lots of people are keen about a restaurant and a café, and certainly a shop, but it's just the opening hours we have concerns about.

"I think if they were to reduce the hours and close slightly earlier, that would be better, and more sociable."

Locals across the village have voiced their concerns to East Suffolk Council, which will decide on the application in due course.

There's fears noise could travel across the nearby village green (Image: Bruno Brown)

Currently operating on a temporary licence, the venue hopes to secure a full premises licence for various activities including films, live and recorded music, indoor sporting events and dance performances, both indoors and outdoors.

Alcohol could be sold on and off the premises from 9am, with late-night trading permitted until midnight on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Live music would also be allowed until midnight at weekends, with other entertainment ending by 10pm or 11pm on weeknights.

Award-winning chef Alex Clare runs the restaurant at the holiday park (Image: Rachel Ducker)

Mr Moore added: "We are now having to get ourselves together again on such short notice, and it's in such close proximity to houses, and we are not allowing them to use the village hall car park.

"They want a licence for alcohol and music from 10am, when the school children and retired people surround them. They are all going to be shouting, and the noise is going to be terrible; the nearest houses are only 100 yards away.

"Last time we had 100 people who objected to the building, before long there's going to be punch-ups with all the noise of the vehicles and all of the conversations."