Robert Hunningher

A CAFE owner in Highbury has said applying for a licence to sell booze “has been a nightmare”, after receiving a backlash from some of his neighbours.

Robert Hunningher founded Humdingers in Highbury Park – a stone’s throw away from where he grew up – last year, serving brunch and artisan baked goods.

The cafe also gives out free soup and bread to “anyone who walks past” and is hungry.

Mr Hunningher was last night (Thursday) waiting for a verdict on whether he will be allowed to extend the opening hours, serve alcohol, and occasionally host live music.

But he already knows that some residents are not happy with the idea, fearing noise disturbance, especially on football match days.

“It’s been a night­mare,” he said. “It makes me so sad that it’s this way. We got on really well with the neighbours and I’m from the area. The way people have acted is just malicious.”

He said people have been “nasty” behind their backs and “made them out to be criminals”.

Two weeks ago someone kicked their sign over, he said.

The new licence would allow him “to use the space to its full potential”, he said, adding that this might include hosting book launches and wine tasting, as well as selling alcohol from local producers down the road and hiring more people.

But one objection said: “We are a residential home situated opposite the premises. We both work full-time and need to sleep well and rise early… We are very concerned about the public nuisance aspect of the possibility of alcohol and live music until 11pm every single night of the week.”

On his plans for live music, Mr Hunningher said: “We’re not going to have raves. What I mean by live music is having a two-piece jazz band on a Sunday.

“It’s not about playing loud music and the people who are saying it have got a very vivid imagination. I really think if you had a gig in that building the whole place would fall down. We’ll be responsible.

“Some of the stories I’ve heard, that we’re going to be selling Stellas [lager] on the street two for a fiver on match days. The whispers are just ridiculous. I don’t remember Highbury being like that.”

He added: “The reason why we have to make more money there is that I spent so much money restoring the old tiles. It used to be a fishmonger and we’ve restored the space instead of ripping it all down.”