Shire business owner grilled by councillors

A NEWTON Stewart restaurant has been granted a premises licence – but with a limit on music being played.
Wee Bits, a small restaurant on Arthur Street, was in the spotlight with Dumfries and Galloway Council’s licensing chiefs last week.
This came after two members of the public raised concerns about noise, smoking outside the premises and the extension of opening hours.
At last week’s licensing board meeting, restaurant owner Michael Ashurst was grilled by councillors on the business operations and in particular the live music element of his premises licence.
Licensing standards officer Julia Farroll told the board the restaurant had been operating since May 2025 with no issues and was adhering to licensing board policies.
Wee Bits has a capacity of 60 and serves small and large plates alongside cocktails and drinks, with food service running from 5 pm to 9 pm. The application sought a midnight terminal hour and included provision for live music and recorded music within core hours.
It was the live music element that drew most scrutiny from board members.
Mid and Upper Nithsdale Councillor Tony Berretti noted that the building – a former bakery – sits in a tightly packed terrace with residential properties, and questioned whether the restaurant was suitable for live performances.
Mid Galloway and Wigtown West Councillor David Inglis echoed those concerns but was keen not to stifle the business.
He said: “It’s nice to see a new business flourishing on the main street. Newton Stewart is well known for the Vault Art Centre and the music venues they support. I wouldn’t want to inhibit the owner from developing his business.”
Mr Ashurst told the board he had never actually held any live music events during the year of operation and had only included the option in the licensing application.
He said: “We are a small restaurant – we’ve just got nine tables. We’ve not had any live music or any performances in the last year that we’ve been operating and we don’t intend to have any live music as such.
“I only really put it in the application to have the option for private functions if anybody wanted to, you know, have like a live singer in the corner of the room with a guitar perhaps – very subtly.”
He also told councillors he had a good relationship with the resident upstairs and had given her assurances that nothing would change in how the restaurant operates.
He added that the business is currently ranked number one on TripAdvisor in Newton Stewart.
The board agreed to grant the licence in full, subject to two conditions: live music and vocals must stop by 10 pm, and recorded music must cease by 11 pm.
The owner also gave his word to install a cigarette bin outside the premises within days.