Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: July 8, 2025

Purpose:

Content: In reaching its decision, the Licensing Sub-Committee (“LSC”) considered the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, the Licensing Act 2003, the Regulations made thereunder, and the Guidance issued by the Secretary of State under S.182 of that Act. In discharging its functions, the LSC did so with a view to promoting the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.    Having considered all written representations, evidence, and oral submissions, the LSC resolved to grant a premises licence.   Permitted Licensable Activities:   Supply of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises    Permitted hours: 9am – 10.00 pm, Monday to Sunday              The Premises Licence shall be subject to the following conditions:   1.            The premises shall operate as a restaurant where all alcohol sales shall be ancillary to food, either sold as a sit-down meal or for sale packaged for consumption away from the premises with a takeaway order.   2.            A CCTV system shall be installed at the premises, both inside and out, which continually records whilst the premises is open for licensable activities. At least one camera shall be placed on entry & exit points which is capable of capturing an image suitable for evidential purposes.   3.            All CCTV images shall be retained for a period of thirty-one (31) days and be made available on request to any Police Officer, Police Community Support Officer, or an officer of the Local Authority (as defined by Section 13 of the Licensing Act 2003) on demand.   4.            Staff shall be fully trained in the operation of the CCTV and there shall be at least one person on duty during trading hours who is able to provide a recording of any incident at the request of the Police and / or Local Authority (as defined by Section 13, Licensing Act 2003).     5.            Notices informing customers of the operation of CCTV shall be prominently displayed.   6.            Notices requesting that customers respect the local residents and vacate the area in a quiet, orderly manner shall be conspicuously and prominently displayed at every exit.   7.            The premises licence holder shall have in place a strict anti-drugs policy approved by Greenwich Policing Licensing.     8.            All staff shall receive recognised customer welfare & vulnerability training from an appropriately qualified trainer, details of which must be documented (e.g., ‘WAVE’, ‘Ask Angela’, or similar). Furthermore, the premises licence holder (or a representative thereof if held in a company name) shall sign-up to the Royal Borough of Greenwich Women’s Charter, or its equivalent, and display certification of this prominently at the premises.   9.            A contact telephone number and e-mail address shall be made available to local residents and businesses on the premises’ website, which they can use to report any issues to the Designated Premises Supervisor or a representative of the premises licence holder. The phone line shall be available during all hours of licensable activity.   10.         A customer dispersal policy shall be implemented to minimise noise disturbance to local residents from customers leaving the premises. It shall include reference to a Code of Conduct by which staff must adhere when departing after trading hours. Copies of this policy shall be made available to the RBG Licensing and Greenwich Police Licensing teams.   11.          All commercial deliveries (including alcohol deliveries), and collections and storage / disposal of refuse and recyclables in external areas, shall be restricted to between 07:00 and 19:00 hours daily.     12. All staff shall be trained in the responsible sale of alcohol and the protection of minors. Such staff training shall be recorded and refresher training provided twelve (12) months as a minimum. The training shall cover, as a minimum:   Acceptable forms of proof of age; How to refuse a sale to persons under 18 years of age; and, How to record such a refusal in the refusals register.   Training records shall be made available for inspection at the request of the Police and / or a Local Authority officer (as defined by Section 13, Licensing Act 2003).   13. When a refusal to sell alcohol takes place, the member of staff involved shall record in a refusal register, as a minimum:   The date & time of refusal; The type of alcohol requested; A description of the customer; The reason for refusal; and, The name of the member of staff.   The refusal register shall be reviewed from time-to-time by the businesses management. They shall record the date & time of their review and note any actions that appear to be needed to protect young people from harm. The register shall also be made available for inspection at the request of the Police and / or Local Authority (as defined by Section 13, Licensing Act 2003).   14. The business shall operate a ‘Think 25’ / ‘Challenge 25’ age verification scheme, where anyone who appears to be under the age of 25 shall be asked for proof of age. The only acceptable forms of proof of age are:   Passport; Photographic driving licence; or A Home Office approved ‘PASS’ hologram proof-of-age card.   15. Posters shall be conspicuously and prominently displayed advising both staff and customers that the ‘Think 25’ / ‘Challenge 25’ scheme operates on the premises and also warning adults not to buy alcohol for those under 18 years-of-age (“It’s A Crime!” proxy sales poster or similar).   16. The on-sale of alcohol for consumption shall be restricted to those who are seated and supplied ancillary to their table meal. See also Condition 1.   17. Sales of alcohol for consumption off the premises shall only be supplied with and ancillary to a substantive meal in sealed containers.   18. There shall be no vertical drinking.   19. There shall be no sale of beer, lager, cider or spirit mixers, either on or off the premises, with an ABV of 6.5% and above, except for ‘premium’ or ‘craft’ brands pre-agreed with the Royal Greenwich Licensing Authority and Greenwich Licensing Police team.     20. All waste shall be properly presented and placed out for collection no earlier than thirty (30) minutes before the collection times formally advised by Royal Borough of Greenwich Refuse Services.   21. Loudspeakers shall not be located in the entrance lobby or outside the premises building.   22. Notices shall be prominently displayed at any area used for smoking requesting patrons to respect the needs of local residents and use the area quietly.   23. The premises licence holder shall ensure that any patrons smoking outside the premises do so in an orderly manner and are supervised by staff so as to ensure that there is no public nuisance or obstruction of the public highway. In line with the Prevention of Public Nuisance licensing objective, there shall be no more than six (6) smokers outside at any one time.   24. All matters pursuant to the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 that are applicable to the operation of these premises in line with the Public Safety licensing objective shall be adhered to at all times.   25. No noise, fumes, steam or odours shall be emitted from the licensed premises so as to cause a nuisance to any persons living or carrying on business in the area where the premises are situated.   26. The maximum capacity of the premises, excluding staff, shall be forty-nine(49).   27. The premises shall have in place a management plan for delivery drivers for collection of packaged orders.   28. A notice shall be prominently displayed requesting delivery drivers not to park by the entrance gates to the building.    Basis of Decision   The LSC gave due regard to all oral and written submissions for the applicant and from residents.   In reaching its decision the LSC noted and had due regard to the applicant’s agreement to conditions proposed by the police and the police thereby not opposing the grant of a premises licence. The LSC further noted and gave due regard to Environmental Health expressly confirming they were not making any written representations to this application. There were no other representations from any other Responsible Authorities.   In reaching its decision the LSC fully considered the location of the premises within the Woolwich Town Centre Cumulative Impact Zone. The LSC were of the view that the premises will operate as a restaurant and there will not be potential for the type of noise and nuisance that may be associated with a primary alcohol business operation as a public house, bar or club with off sales of alcohol, or an Off Licence premises.        The LSC disregarded matters that were not licensing objectives and which it could not properly take into consideration being, such as, the type of cuisine that the restaurant would be providing, hygiene rating of other premises operated by the applicant elsewhere, fire safety and risk of fire from grease within the premises, food odours from the premises,  and parking within the location which are all regulated by separate statutory provisions and by environmental health.   The LSC are not empowered to consider matters relating to planning permission for the premises, and therefore any related representations and submissions did not form part of this decision.        The LSC noted the representations regarding public safety which were related to the type of cuisine and cooking processes. The Public Safety Licensing Objective relates to the health and safety of those present upon the premises and is extensively regulated by separate legislation. Only one representation made representations which the LSC could properly consider, the remaining representations all being in respect of what may occur outside the premises such as odours, fire risk from grease within the premises. The applicant provided documents relating to a Dispersal Policy, Staff Code of conduct, details of the Kitchen Extraction System and a Clean Air Specification for the restaurant. There was no evidence before the LSC that indicated risks to the health and safety of those who maybe present upon the premises. The cooking processes for the type of cuisine was a primary concern of those objecting to the application. However, high heat and the type of cuisine giving rise to the concerns of the residents is not one that is rare or unusual within restaurant premises and there was nothing unusual identified by the residents, for these premises, which the LSC could take into consideration.           The premises are to operate as a restaurant and the supply of alcohol will only be ancillary to customers ordering table meals. Equally, the supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises will only be ancillary to orders for substantive meals and these requirements are included in the conditions subject to which the premises licence is granted.   The LSC fully considered the representations for the potential for crime and disorder and public nuisance. The LSC were of the view that there was no evidence that the grant of a premises licence would adversely impact upon the licensing objectives. Moreover, the Police and Environmental Health, both being Responsible Authorities, made no representations to the application.       Matters relating to the management of parking on the highway and traffic flow are not within the control or remit of the applicant or for which the LSC can lawfully impose conditions and are not licensing objectives. The LSC considered the scope for public nuisance associated with delivery drivers and in respect of which an additional 2 conditions are imposed on the premises licence.   The LSC were satisfied that the premises will be properly run and with the proportionate conditions that are imposed on the premises licence, the licensing objectives will be promoted by the applicant. Any party aggrieved by the decision of the Licensing Sub-Committee may appeal to the magistrates’ court within 21 days.