Concerned residents have lost their fight to prevent accommodation on their street from being able to sell alcohol 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Permission has been granted for alcohol to be sold at The Hideout Boutique House, at Quarry Brow in Bowness-on-Windermere.

South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) granted the licence at a meeting of its licensing subcommittee on Monday – provided the accommodation's owner sticks to conditions in the sale of alcohol by hotels.

Beth Grey, a resident and representative of concerned neighbours, argued that it was the thin end of the wedge for the property and that it could eventually turn into a bar.

She said: “We think that if this goes through, that eventually the boutique will become a bar in the long run, based on previous experience where the applicant applied for a temporary bar, then changed the usage from residential to commercial with the local Garden Bar.

"So, it's actions like this that give residents like us concerns as to what the long-term plan of the applicant really is.”

Currently the property has a self-service bar and two bedrooms for what was described at the licensing committee hearing as 'high-end accommodation'.

Steven Hargreaves, the owner and applicant, was represented at the hearing by solicitor Malcolm Ireland.

He said: “Fundamentally, it’s a house owned by the company and rented out to guests for two or three days at a time.

"It’s purely high-end accommodation at the moment and sleeps two, meaning more well-heeled clients, are less likely to course a nuisance.

"I argue that it’s just a small change to what it has already.

“We want to work more closely with our suppliers such as our champagne suppliers, so we are able to supply guests with alcohol, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"We are only selling alcohol.

"Sales of alcohol from a mini bar will be for whenever a guest decides to take it from the fridge, so the impact on the street is very low.”

Ms Grey and the other residents now have seven days to appeal the decision.