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Council approves temporary outdoor bar at Sunset Cove with permit requirements and 9 p.m. cutoff
Summary
After extended public comment about noise and permits, the Portsmouth Town Council approved a seasonal outdoor liquor-service expansion at Sunset Cove contingent on all permits, a community meeting, and ending outside service at 9:00 p.m.; the measure passed 5–1.
The Portsmouth Town Council narrowly approved a temporary seasonal expansion of Sunset Cove’s outdoor liquor service on July 27, contingent on completing all required permits, holding a community meeting, and limiting outside service to end at 9:00 p.m.
Neighbors at the meeting urged the council to deny the application because of noise, traffic and permit concerns. Eileen Chernoff, who said she lives on Point Road, told the council that amplified music and behavior tied to the outdoor bar had made her backyard unusable and that “we request that the application be rejected for the breaches of the…the town noise ordinance.” Business owner Denny DiMarino, who said he owns Sunset Cove and Trembly’s Blue Anchor, said his staff of about 75 people needs the extra weeks of outdoor service and that he had been moving to obtain permits: “We’re gonna get it done…we're asking that the council…approve this so we can operate the tiki bars starting this Thursday.”
Councilors debated conditions before voting. One amendment — to require outside service to end at 9:00 p.m. for the seasonal expansion — was adopted and carried on a 5–1 vote; the final motion approved the expansion through November 30, 2026, contingent on completion of plumbing, electrical, building, and CRMC permits and on holding a community meeting with neighborhood representatives. The council president said staff would withhold the license release unless permits were finalized.
