A SEAFOOD restaurant that closed down after having its alcohol licence revoked for repeatedly breaching conditions has now been replaced by a nacho restaurant.

Max Mazurenko, the former licensee of Azure in Madeira Drive, Brighton, appealed against his licence being revoked and was refused the right to be a licensee at Brighton Magistrates’ Court yesterday after the premises was caught selling alcohol without a licence on several occasions.

A Consent Order was made by the court, transferring the licence and sub-lease for the building to Natasha Arghiros of Fluid Brighton Limited, a new family friendly nacho restaurant on the seafront site.

Police and Brighton and Hove City Council’s seafront team raised concerns about Azure’s inconsistent management since its licence was granted in October 2013.

After Azure was caught selling alcohol with no licence, staff were also found to be serving customers a cup of cold pasta when they ordered a drink to try and meet the requirement that alcohol must be served with food.

The council’s licensing panel heard an application for a review last October and decided to revoke Azure’s licence.

Following “unprecedented” levels of intervention from licensing officers and three closure warnings the restaurant was still found to be in breach of licensing conditions.

A panel spokesman said: “The panel consider that the responses of the licence holder to the advice and warnings issued illustrate a wilful lack of understanding and appreciation of the importance of adhering to the conditions on his licence.

“We find that the offer of a cup or plate of cold pasta to customers buying alcohol was purely designed to circumvent the restaurant condition which states that alcohol must be sold ancillary to a table meal, and not the other way around.”

The council’s register shows that Azure’s licence was transferred to Kelly Marie Dutton, an employee of Mr Mazurenko’s, in May this year following his appeal in March.

Ms Arghiros has now officially been granted a sub-lease and the licence for the building.

She said: “We are excited about our new venture Fluid being here to provide a family friendly restaurant experience.

“I am Brighton born and bred so it is great to be able open the restaurant here.”

The court ordered that Mr Mazurenko should not be the premises license holder in any capacity, including as a company officer and that he should have no involvement in the management or operation of the premises, including as an employee.

No costs were ordered to be paid by either Mr Mazurenko or the council.