Church fights to stop baker selling wine with bread

A church and its parishioners are launching a legal bid to stop an "artisan" bakery selling wine.

Clergy at the Roman Catholic StAnselm and St Cecilia have hired a lawyer amid concerns "revelry" at the bakery will disturb prayers.

Entrepreneur Jonathan Dalton, who founded the Bloomsbury Bowling lanes, wants to offer alcoholic drinks at the Fleet River Bakery in Holborn.

His plans are strongly opposed by the neighbouring church. Parish priest Father David Barnes said he viewed the alcohol licence application with "anxiety" and "horror".

He added: "The church is one of the few places where people find quiet and calm. We would be robbed of this peace if a licence was granted."

Mr Dalton said the concerns were baseless: "It has been an absolute nightmare. I want to bring back artisan baking to central London, and in addition, I want to serve the odd glass of wine or organic cider.

"Unfortunately the church ... see alcohol as being evil. But there is a pub two metres from the front door of their annex, and they don't object to that. We are not looking to be a late-night bar."

Mr Dalton claims the bakery in Lincoln's Inn Fields is the first by independent artisans to open in central London for 50 years.

His £2million project also includes a number of flats above the shop.

The businessman, who has promised not to serve alcohol on Sundays, has launched a petition to persuade Camden council to grant the licence after his first request was turned down in January.

A decision will be made this month.