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 1. Empire Lounge Services Ltd (“the
Applicant”) applied for a new Premises Licence on 25th August
2025 for Grand Empire, 108–110 Rushey Green SE6 4HW
(“the Premises”).
2. The application was made and advertised
correctly in the newspaper however the public notices required
amending at the beginning of the process. The last date for
representations was extended to ensure the application was
advertised in accordance with Regulation 25 of the Licensing Act
2003 (Premises licences and club premises certificates) Regulations
2005. The last date for representations was 30th September
2025.
3. The particulars proposed for the premise
licence were:
Particulars of Application
Live & Recorded Music
12:00 – 01:30 Monday to
Wednesday
12:00 – 02:30 Sunday &
Thursday
01:00 – 03:30 Friday &
Saturday
The applicant wishes to have the facility for
the provision of live & recorded music whether as the principal
entertainment provided or in conjunction with dancing or
any
other permitted activity.
Late night refreshment
23:00 – 01:30 Monday to
Wednesday
23:00 – 02:30 Sunday &
Thursday
23:00 – 03:30 Friday &
Saturday
Alcohol for consumption on & off the
premises
10.00 – 01:30 Monday to
Wednesday
10.00 – 02:30 Sunday &
Thursday
10:00 – 03:30 Friday &
Saturday
Seasonal Variations
New Years Eve from the end of permitted hours
New Years Eve to the start of permitted hours on the following
day.
An additional hour on the Sunday of a bank
holiday weekend.
Currently Licensed:
The existing premises licence PL1480 will be
surrendered it this application is granted.
4. Written representations were received
within the specified time from both the Licensing Authority and the
Metropolitan Police. A representation was received from a local
Councillor on the grounds that the application does not promote the
licensing objectives. The representation was received within the
specified time, was examined by Officers and was not considered to
be vexatious or frivolous. No other Responsible Authority made any
representations.
5. The Applicant offered conditions consistent
with the operating schedule as part of the application, appearing
in the application form as Annex 2 on pages 43 to 45 of the Agenda
and reports pack. The Applicant’s solicitor, David Dadds,
offered further conditions on 22nd October 2025, which were
circulated before the meeting.
.
6. The Licensing Sub-Committee A held a
meeting on the 23rd of October 2025 to consider the Application.
Safer Communities Licensing Officer, Angela Mullin-Murrell,
introduced the report. David Dadds representing the applicant
company, then addressed the Sub-Committee in support of the
premises licence application. He was allowed a fixed period of time
and answered Members’ questions. PC Gillian Pearce addressed
the Sub-Committee and answered Members' questions, on behalf of the
Metropolitan Police. Kennedy Obazee, Safer Communities Licensing
Officer, addressed the Sub-Committee and answered Members'
questions, on behalf of the Licensing Authority. The local
Councillor, who submitted written representations objecting to the
grant of the licence, attended and was invited to speak at the
meeting. He was allowed an equal amount of time and answered the
questions put to him by Members. At the parties present were given
an opportunity at the end to briefly sum up their position, Mr
Dadds for the Applicant being the last to speak..
7. In making its decision the Sub-Committee
has considered all the papers contained in the report pack and
submitted documents, including written submissions, together with
the Applicant’s oral submissions, those made on behalf of the
Licensing Authority and the Police and from the Councillor objector
at the hearing. The Sub-Committee also considered the
Council’s own Statement of Licensing Policy 2020-25 and the
latest Home Office Statutory Guidance, revised in December
2023.
8. The decision of the Sub-Committee is to
refuse to grant the premises licence for the activities applied
for.
9. The Sub-Committee’s reasons for
taking this decision are:
a.
The operating hours proposed in the
application for licensed activity , rising to 3.30am on a Friday
and Saturday, were much higher than the preferred hours set out in
the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy for a town centre
location and were not appropriate in the circumstances.
b.
The proposed uses of the first and second
floors of the large multi-functional premises remain unclear and
plans submitted have not been updated to reflect the current or any
future layout of the premises. It is therefore not possible to
determine what specific further conditions, above those offered,
would be necessary to promote the licensing objectives and
particularly concerning public nuisance.
c.
The Sub-Committee noted that the premises
remained licenced under the existing instrument PL1480 and could
continue to operate under its terms.
11. There is a right of appeal against this
decision. Any appeal should be made to the Magistrates’ court
within 21 days beginning with the day on which the Appellant was
notified of the decision.
Any person who has given notice of appeal on a
licensing decision to the Magistrates Court, or is considering
doing so, should not approach council officers for legal advice. A
person making an appeal should seek independent
legal advice, for instance, from a firm of
solicitors or the local Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to
assist.
23rd October 2025