The owner of a new Largs delicatessen and bistro coming to town has voiced disappointment at only achieving an alcohol licence for one of the two venues.

John Corrigan, who owns the former Cafe Bon Bon shop and the Largs second hand furniture shop, in Aitken Street, is hoping to put in a bistro and delicatessen at these locations respectively.

But he has received an alcohol licence for only the bistro.

Speaking to the ‘News’, Mr Corrigan said: “Most delis work with some kind of quality wine on sale, and it is just something that we will have to work round.

“We are hoping to open one or the other before the summer season gets up and running.

“The bistro is another facility that Largs doesn’t have. It will be small and intimate, and will offer fresh produce which we seem to be missing in Largs on a daily basis - we hope to offer seafood and fish. With Largs being a seaside town, it seems to be lacking in a seafood restaurant.

“We hope to have special meals and menus which reflect the seasons, and provide something different than what is already on offer.

“Largs hasn’t had a proper delicatessen. Sometimes people don’t want to go to a supermarket for fish or meat or Parma ham, and cheeses. There are plenty of good quality delis in Europe, but not necessarily in Scotland, and we hope to complement the fishmongers and butchers already in place in Aitken Street.

“We need to offer something different in the town - the likes of Wetherspoons in Largs will capture the fast food market.By offering a bistro and delicatessen, we are trying to keep Aitken Street busy with footfall and traffic.” But Mr Corrigan admitted that losing out on a licence for the delicatessen was a blow.

He said: “There are no places in Largs where you can buy alcohol which is not a multiple, as far as I am aware. Hacos, Spar, Tesco and Morrison are all big multiples, and we were hoping to offer a range of quality wines.

“It seems odd, as a few years ago you had Haddows and Victoria Wine shops in Largs town centre with an area of 100% for alcohol sales, and we were only going to be providing an area of less than 20% for alcohol sales.

“It looks like a blanket decision has been taken of not providing off-sales licences, which won’t maximise the possibilities of allowing businesses to flourish.” Conservative councillor Tom Marshall, who is vice chair of the North Ayrshire Licensing Board, said: “The delicatessen was basically refused a licence on the grounds of over provision - because there is a fair number of off-sales round about in the vicinity.

“There had been a previous objection from the minister of the Church of Nazarene, which is next door, and also Largs Community Council had objected. It was seen as unfair to have a licence on either side, as there were enough in the range of off-sales in that area.” Mr Corrigan told the ‘News’ he hoped that his business, Acre Lettings, would re-apply for the licence for the ‘deli’ operation."

Last year, the new delicatessen in Fairlie managed to acquire an alcohol licence when it opened, but only at the second time of asking.