A NEW takeaway selling rotisserie chicken and roast dinners has applied for a licence to sell craft beers and wines with its food orders.

Owners Glen Halsey and Michael Matthews said they would only sell drinks to customers at their new business, Roasthost, in Dyke Road, Brighton.

They told a Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel they would not include alcohol with orders for delivery.

The pair are taking on the premises previously occupied by Dodo fish and chip shop, with the entrance in Bath Street.

The council’s licensing department objected to their application to sell alcohol from noon until 9pm from Wednesday to Saturday and until 7pm on Sundays.

The pair said they were a food-led business and would be “very stringent” on they sell to.

Both Mr Halsey and Mr Matthews are experienced personal licence holders.

Mr Matthews said a bottle of wine from the takeaway would probably be in the £20 range so they would not be in competition with local off-licences.

Councillors wanted reassurance anyone buying alcohol would have a “substantial” amount of food to take away.

Labour councillor Jackie O’Quinn, who chaired the licensing panel, said: “Alcohol is so much better when people eat sensibly. That would allay many of our concerns.”

She asked about litter and suggested a condition on any future licence that the street outside would be kept clean and tidy.

Conservative councillor Dee Simson asked for clear signs so customers would know alcohol would only be sold with a substantial food order.

The panel’s decision is expected within days.