A popular Italian restaurant in Castletown has had its application for a liquor licence refused - after the licensing committee said it was not impressed with the applicant’s attitude.

The licensing committee heard that alcohol sales accounted for up to 50% of the takings at Leonardo’s.

And they said they found it ’extraordinary’, given how much the business depends on alcohol sales, that the applicant did not seek prior approval for a liquor licence.

’If it is now losing money because of that failure then it has no-one to blame but itself,’ they said.

The application by Succulent Savouries Ltd for an on-licence at Leonardo’s Restaurant and Café, which is at Stanley House on Castle Street, was heard on November 10.

General manager Anouar Benbatoul, together with Sharon Elizabeth Kissack and Richard Ian Kissack, applied to be named as the designated officials.

The licensing court heard that Mr Benbatoul had a long history in the hospitality trade, having previously been owner/manager at La Casa Restaurant at the Groudle Glen Hotel from 2002 to 2009, at the Casablanca Restaurant in Douglas from 2009 to 2012, and at Fusion nightclub and bar, in Callow’s Yard, Castletown, from 2012 to 2014.

His extensive experience in the licensed trade, his lack of convictions, the fact that there have been no reported incidents at Leonardo’s under the previous licence holder or recently under Mr Benbatoul’s management, all went to him being considered a fit and proper person to be a designated official.

But the court heard that Mr Benbatoul is an undischarged bankrupt. His advocate said there was nothing in the Licensing Act to say that an undischarged bankrupt cannot be a designated official. But the licensing court said this was relevant.

And the bench said they were not impressed with Mr Benbatoul’s attitude when he was questioned about his knowledge of licensing law.

’We would expect an element of humility from a person applying to be a designated official. The appointment is not "just a hurdle",’ they said.

In the absence of further information as to the discharge of his bankruptcy and given his attitude to being asked questions, they said did not consider him to be a ’fit and proper person’ to be a designated official.

And the licensing committee also had concerns about the Kissacks’ application to be designated officials, citing their lack of experience and lack of time to commit to the full-time role of running the restaurant.

They said Mr Benbatoul would continue to be "Mr Leonardo’s" and Mrs and Mrs Kissack would be a ’mere presence’ in the restaurant and no more than designated officials on paper as was apparently the case under the previous ownership.

For that reason, and lack of recent experience, their application was refused.

The licensing court also raised concerns that the applicants failed to declare the identity of a major shareholder, who financed the purchase of Leonardo’s and now holds 49% of the shares.

They said: ’It is important that the court is aware of the identity of those involved in creating a company intended to hold a liquor licence. We do not consider that Succulent Savouries can be trusted by the court.’