Plans to set up a small-scale independent gin distillery have been approved.

Slake Spirits will soon move to Upper High Street, Worthing, after being given the nod by the borough council’s planning committee on Wednesday.

As well as producing gin, the new set-up will include tours and tasting sessions for visitors.

Thomas Martin-Wells, who runs the Shoreham-based business with his father, responded to concerns raised by five objectors.

Mr Martin-Wells assured the committee the manufacturing process would produce no noise and no smell and that all tours would be by appointment only.

He said: “It’s quite important to realise this is not a walk-in drinking establishment.

“This is a production facility that has tours when it’s able to do so around that schedule.”

Committee chairman Paul High said: “Personally, I feel we should support any kind of small business and I think this is a worthy enterprise.”

With no parking at the site, there were concerns from some about where

visitors would leave their cars.

Members agreed that Mr Martin-Wells would produce a travel plan offering guidance to his customers about car parks and alternative ways of travelling to the distillery.

The application was approved by seven votes to zero with one abstention.

Lib Dem Councillor Martin McCabe voiced his support for the project, despite admitting that he didn’t “get” gin.

But he had to abstain from voting after technical issues meant he missed some of the discussion.