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The Licensing Sub-Committee in considering
this decision from the information presented to it within the
report and at the hearing has determined that having regard to the
promotion of all the licensing objectives:
 
• The prevention of crime and
disorder;
• Public safety;
• Prevention of public nuisance; and
• The protection of children from
harm,
 
and in particular the Prevention of Crime and
Disorder, The Prevention of Public Nuisance and Public Safety.
 
The application to vary a premises licence has
been refused in accordance with Licensing Policies LP1, LP2, LP3,
and LP4, within the Council’s Statement of Licensing
Policy.
 
Reasons for the
decision
 
The Licensing Sub Committee heard from the
Premises Licence Holder in summary he provided the following
representations, that the premises had shown the professionalism,
care and dedication to upholding the licensing objectives and
community responsibility with the premises. The operating costs had
increased considerably and in order to sustain their community arts
and wellbeing programmes an extension to the hours was sought.
 
The Licensing Sub- Committee took into account
representations from the Environmental Protection Service in
summary raised issues regarding public nuisance. In particular, the
hours requested in the variation are extremely late for a venue
that is within a highly residential area. Since March 2022 they had
received 24 complaints from 11 different residents, residents
alleged disturbances from loud music and issues around
patrons’ dispersal during the early hours of the morning. The
latest complaint being the 8th of December 2025 at 23;36 alleging
disturbance from loud music which prevented nearby residents from
sleeping.
 
The Licensing Sub Committee heard
representations from the Metropolitan Police Service (“the
Police”) their representations were in relation to the
prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public
nuisance. In summary they stated the hours requested are extremely
late for a venue that is within a residential area. The Police have
previously witnessed issues with dispersal. In particular crowds
blocking the road and stopping buses from being able to pass. The
Police also stated that they were aware of noise complaints in the
past coming from the above premises. It was also stated that the
noise from the premises prevented nearby residents from
sleeping.
 
The Licensing Sub Committee heard
representations from a local resident. In summary the
representations primarily were in relation to prevention of crime
and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. In particular,
complaints of noise from the premises and the location of the
premises in a residential area. The Licensing Sub Committee took
into account that the local resident had concerns that there are no
trains nearby after midnight and only an occasional night bus. As a
result, this would cause public nuisance as customers disperse.
 
The Licensing Sub Committee also took into
consideration the written representations from the Hackney Wick
Ward Councillors. In their written representations they objected to
the variation of the licence. In particular, they stated that the
premises is in a residential area and that the extension to 04:00
will unavoidably cause public nuisance, have a negative impact on
those who live around the venue in terms of residents' right to
amenity and peace during night time.
 
The Licensing Sub Committee also took into
consideration the representations from the Environmental Protection
Service. The written representations were around the prevention of
public nuisance. In summary the representations involved complaints
regarding fly-tipping, littering and the accumulation of waste in
the area. However, it is clear if those complaints are from the
above premises. What is clear is that there were concerns that
there could be likely cigarette litter due to smoking being illegal
in nearly all enclosed premises. There was also the possibility of
patrons leaving behind glasses and bottles. In view of the fact
that there were written representations the Licensing Sub-
Committee attached the necessary weight to those written
representations.
 
The Licensing Sub-Committee after considering
the application and the above representations from the Premises
License Holder, the Environmental Protection Service, the
Metropolitan Police Service, Other Persons (local residents),
Environmental Protection Service, Environmental Enforcement and
written representations from the Hackney Wick Ward Councillors.
 
The Sub-Committee took into account the 24
complaints from 11 different residents' regarding noise such as
loud music which came from the above premises. The Licensing
Sub-Committee took into account that 15 TENs had been acknowledged.
There were complaints of loud music from the local residents
arising from 2 TENs.
 
In response the Premises License Holder stated
that these complaints of noise did not come from their premises.
However, this was not supported by the Police or the Environmental
Protection Service who made representations that the complaints of
noise emanated from the premises.
 
The Licensing Sub Committee took into account
previous incidents where crowds of patrons during dispersals were
blocking the road and stopping buses being able to pass. This has
been personally witnessed by the Police. The issue of dispersal was
also raised by the Environmental Protection Service, in their
representations there has been complaints of customer dispersal
during events and in the early hours of the morning. In the written
representations of the local resident they stated that
customers’ dispersal will certainly cause public
nuisance. 
The Licensing Sub Committee took into
consideration that the premises are located in a residential area,
and that extending the hours to 04:00 is excessive, and outside the
core hours as set out in the Council's Statement of Licensing
Policy. These were concerns that were raised by all those who made
representations.
The Licensing Sub Committee commended the
Premises License Holder for his awareness and implementation of the
“Ask for Angela” Safety initiative. 
The Sub-Committee took into consideration when
refusing this application that each case is considered on its
merits. The Sub-Committee believed that the licensing objectives
could not be promoted by granting this variation application, and
as such it was appropriate to refuse the application in its
entirety.
 
 
The Sub-Committee takes the view that the
decision taken in not varying the licence is proportionate as
varying the hours would not promote the licensing objectives. In
particular, the prevention of public nuisance and the prevention of
crime and disorder.