FAST casual food chain Five Guys has been granted approval to serve alcohol off premises.

Dorset Police had supported the restaurant’s licence bid in general but opposed its being granted an off licence citing concerns over crime and antisocial behaviour in the Lower Gardens near the BH2 development.

At a licensing board meeting yesterday members voted to grant the application, albeit with a new condition requiring that off-site alcohol sales be limited to two bottles per food purchase.

Chairman Andrew Morgan said: “We very much welcome Five Guys to Bournemouth and wish you every success with this venture.

“It seems you have quite a compelling offer to the public and we hope you will be very successful and responsible.”

Police figures submitted by the force’s licensing officer PC Steve Lemon showed eight antisocial behaviour incidents involving drink in the gardens since February 24, and 17 in the Square since February 3, and he said the “fast casual food” style of the business would attract young people from the gardens who might become drunk and contribute to antisocial behaviour.

He said the force had recently moved officers from the ‘safe bus’ service to increase patrols in the gardens in light of recent incidents, which included youths throwing bottles at patrons of a BH2 restaurant.

Representing Five Guys, Julia Palmer said alcohol sales made up only 1.1 per cent of the national business, including on-premises sales, and included only sales of mid-strength North American beers Corona, Budweiser and Brooklyn.

She pointed out that Dorset Police had not objected to off-sales of alcohol from any of the other restaurants in the BH2 complex, although PC Lemon said that was because these premises had been more focused on sit-down dining.

Also, she said, “within five minutes at most of that side of gardens you have a local off licence in Exeter Road and of course Tesco Metro”. She said beer could be bought at these venues for “ in some cases half price” compared with Five Guys.

With its new licence Five Guys can serve food and alcohol until 12.30am Monday to Sunday, with an extension to 2am on the night of New Years Eve.

The restaurant is expecting to open at the end of May.