Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: September 25, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Notification of decision following a Licensing Panel hearing to determine an application for a premises licence under section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003   PREMISES: Lampton Parkside Café, Unit 2, 88 Lampton Road, Hounslow TW3 3DJ                       (“the Premises”)   APPLICANT: Goodcare Global UK Properties Ltd.   TAKE NOTICE THAT following a hearing before the Licensing and General Purposes Sub-Committee (“the Licensing Panel” or “Panel”)   HOUNSLOW COUNCIL, as the Licensing Authority for the Premises, RESOLVED that: The application for the grant of the premises licence for Lampton Parkside Café, Unit 2, 88 Lampton Road, Hounslow TW3 3DJ  be GRANTED, subject to the conditions and modifications set out below.   The Licensing Panel considered an application for the grant of a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003.   In summary, the Licensing Panel decided, after taking into account all of the individual circumstances of this case, the relevant legislation and statutory guidance, and the need to promote the four licensing objectives, to grant the application as follows: -   1.          To grant permission for the sale of alcohol for consumption on the Premises ·        Monday to Sunday 12:00 hours to 22:00 hours   2.          To set the opening hours of the Premises as follows: ·        Monday to Sunday 08:00 hours to 22:00 hours.   3.          The licence is subject to all mandatory conditions.   4.          The licence is subject to the further conditions set out below.   The Licensing Panel heard from the Licensing Officer, who presented her report. She advised that the application had been properly made and that all relevant statutory procedures had been complied with. Consultation had been carried out in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, and the application was attached as Appendix A to the report.   It was confirmed that the premises was not currently licensed and was located in a residential area and within the Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP) area covering Hounslow, North West Isleworth, Heston, and Cranford.   Four representations had been received from local residents raising concerns about the potential for increased noise, anti-social behaviour, parking pressures and congestion, under the prevention of public nuisance, crime and disorder, and public safety licensing objectives. These representations were included in full at Appendix B.   No other responsible authorities submitted representations in respect of the application.   The Licensing Officer reported that the Police and the Licensing Enforcement Officer had engaged with the applicant and agreed a set of conditions intended to address the licensing objectives. These agreed conditions were appended to the report at Appendix C.     Finally, the Licensing Officer reminded the Licensing Panel of the options open to them, namely:          i.           To grant the application in full and on the terms and conditions contained within the application, including any applicable mandatory conditions.         ii.           To grant the application as above, but modified to such an extent as considered appropriate to satisfy any relevant representations and promote the licensing objectives or       iii.           To reject the application in whole or in part. Top of Form   Bottom of Form   The Licensing Panel then heard from the Applicant’s representatives. They explained that the café was intended to operate as a community hub where residents could come together to enjoy food and light refreshments, with alcohol offered only as a complimentary element to meals rather than as a standalone bar service. The application sought permission to serve alcohol between 12:00 and 22:00 hours, Monday to Sunday, with the café closing at 22:00 hours each day. They emphasised that the premises was not seeking to change its character or become a drinking establishment. Alcohol service would end by 21:30 hours, with the café closing promptly at 22:00 hours.   They confirmed there would be no amplified or live music, only low-level background sound typical of a café environment, and all customers would be seated with no vertical drinking. The representatives addressed residents’ concerns, stating that noise would be carefully managed through staff training and signage and that all Police and Licensing Enforcement conditions had been accepted, including those relating to the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.   They explained that CCTV coverage was being expanded to include internal and external areas, and staff were trained to Level 2 in licensing, with refresher training scheduled every six to twelve months. Any incidents or refusals of alcohol would be recorded.   On waste management, the representatives acknowledged that there had been some issues during the transition of ownership but confirmed that these had been resolved, with regular private waste collections in place. Regarding parking, they stated that customers were encouraged to use nearby public parking facilities and that the café did not promote or permit inappropriate parking near the premises.   They also outlined emergency arrangements, confirming the existence of multiple exit points and a designated fire assembly point. A Challenge 25 policy was to be strictly enforced, additional staff were to be deployed at busy times, and alcohol was only to be served to seated customers ordering food. Customers who had not ordered food would not be served alcohol.   Finally, they reassured the Licensing Panel that the café was a locally run independent business, not part of a chain, and that the owners were approachable and committed to working with residents and authorities to address any concerns that may arise.   The Licensing Panel heard from a resident objector. She raised concerns about significant noise disturbance from events already held at the café, particularly affecting flats directly above. She noted that the café’s current operating hours were later than those of typical cafés and that introducing alcohol would likely worsen noise, parking pressures, and potential antisocial behaviour.   She questioned the applicant’s commitment to the police’s food with alcohol condition, citing previous inconsistencies, and highlighted that sound traveled easily within the building, amplifying the disturbance. She also expressed concerns that events attracted visitors by car, increasing congestion in an area with limited parking controls.   The Licensing Panel heard from a second objector. He objected on the grounds that the proposed alcohol service hours, ending at 21:30 with closing at 22:00, were too late for residents, many of whom retire at that time. He expressed doubts about the effective enforcement of food with alcohol conditions, noting that staff discretion could be inconsistent. He referred to previous antisocial behaviour in the area and raised concerns that granting an alcohol licence would encourage longer stays, louder behaviour, and outdoor gatherings, particularly in the summer. He emphasised that the building was residential, and residents had not expected to live next to a licensed premises.   In summing up, the Applicant’s representative thanked the Licensing Panel, Councillors, and residents for their engagement. They emphasised that the café was locally run and aimed to provide a community space, not a bar. They highlighted that similar nearby cafés operated successfully with alcohol licences and reiterated the applicant’s commitment to responsible management, including maintaining contact with residents, having a designated supervisor on site, and addressing concerns promptly. They stated that granting the licence would support the local economy and help manage the premises more effectively, including reducing nuisance by better use of the outdoor space.   In summing up, the resident objector reiterated concerns about increased event noise, parking pressures, and the potential for antisocial behaviour if an alcohol licence were granted. She noted that noise issues had already escalated since the change of ownership and expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of Council processes in resolving parking problems. She maintained that introducing alcohol would likely exacerbate existing disturbances in a residential area.   In summing up, the second objector stated that while he supported the café as a community space, he believed alcohol was unnecessary and would create a nuisance in a primarily residential area. He stressed that residents had not expected to live next to licensed premises and expressed concerns that, based on past unresolved noise issues, granting the licence could undermine the current peace and quiet, and be difficult to reverse once problems arose.   Decision   In reaching its decision, the Licensing Panel carefully considered all relevant information including:   ·        The written and oral representations from the parties. ·        The Licensing Act 2003 and the steps necessary to promote the licensing objectives. ·        The revised Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 and ·        The Council’s Licensing Policy.   The Licensing Panel carefully evaluated the objections raised, the evidence presented by the applicant, and noted the absence of any objections from responsible authorities. They were satisfied that 1)     The application would not undermine the licensing objectives. 2)     The agreed police and licensing enforcement conditions were comprehensive and proportionate. 3)     The applicant had sufficiently addressed the CIP presumption and demonstrated willingness to accept further safeguards.   The Licensing Panel considered it reasonable to grant the Applicant’s application for a premises licence.   Accordingly, the Licensing Panel resolved to GRANT the Application for a Premises Licence subject to all mandatory conditions and the additional conditions agreed with the police as set out in Appendix C to the licensing officer’s report.   Conditions to be added to the operating schedule:   1.     All staff engaged in licensable activity at the premises would receive training and information in relation to the following:                             i.           The Challenge 25 scheme in operation at the premises, including the forms of identification that are acceptable                            ii.           The hours and activities permitted by the premises licence issued under the Licensing Act 2003 and conditions attached to the licence.                          iii.           How to complete and maintain the refusal register in operation at the premises (in relation to the sale of alcohol).                          iv.           Recognising the signs of drunkenness.                           v.           The operating procedures for refusing service to any person who is drunk, underage, or appears to be underage, or appears to be making a proxy purchase.                          vi.           Action to be taken in the event of an emergency, including reporting an incident to the emergency services.           Training should be recorded in documentary form and should be regularly refreshed at no greater than 12-month intervals. Training records should be made available for inspection and copying at reasonable times upon request of an authorised officer of a responsible authority. Training records would be retained for at least 12 months.   2.     An incident log should be kept and maintained at the premises, which would include a log of the following, including pertinent details:                             i.           Any incidents of disorder or of a violent or antisocial nature;                            ii.           All crimes reported to the venue, or by the venue to the police;                          iii.           All ejections of patrons;                          iv.           Any complaints received;                           v.           Seizures of drugs or offensive weapons;                          vi.           Any faults in the CCTV system;                        vii.           Any visits by a responsible authority (under the Licensing Act 2003) or emergency service.   Records were to be completed within 24 hours of any incident, and would contain the time and date, the nature of the incident, the people involved, the action taken, and details of the person responsible for the management of the premises at the time of the incident. The logs should be kept for at least 12 months following the date of entry and be made available for inspection and copying upon request of an authorised officer of a responsible authority.     3.     All alcohol on display would be in such a position so as not to be obscured from the constant view of the staff.   4.     There should be no self-service of alcohol on the premises.   5.     In the event that an incident occurred for which the police had been called, the crime scene should be preserved to enable the police to carry out a full forensic investigation.   6.     The maximum number of persons (including staff) allowed at the premises should not exceed 60 people, including patrons and staff.   7.     The collection of glasses and bottles should be undertaken at regular intervals to ensure there is no build-up of empties on the premises.   8.     A telephone number should be made available and displayed in a prominent location where it can conveniently be read from the exterior of the premises by the public for local residents to contact in the case of noise nuisance or anti-social behaviour by persons or activities associated with the premises. The telephone number would be a direct number to the management who are in control during opening hours. A record would be kept by management of all calls received, including the time, date, and information of the caller, including action taken following the call. Records would be made available for inspection and copying by an authorised officer of a responsible authority throughout the trading hours of the premises.   9.     No deliveries (in relation to licensable activities) to the premises should take place between 23:00 hours and 07:00 hours.   10.During the hours of operation of the premises, sufficient measures would be taken to remove and prevent litter and waste arising or accumulating from customers in the area immediately outside the premises.   11.No collections of waste or recycling materials (including bottles) from the premises should take place between 23:00 hours and 07:00 hours on the following day.   12. All staff, supervisors, and managers were required to be trained in the legality and procedure of alcohol sales, prior to undertaking the sale of alcohol, and then at least every 12 months. Training should be signed and documented. Training records were to be kept on the premises and be made available for inspection and copying to an authorised officer of a responsible authority on request. The documentation relating to training should extend back to a period of at least 12 months and should specify the time, date, and details of the persons both providing the training and receiving the training.   13.There would be in place a written age verification policy in relation to the sale or supply of alcohol, which would specify a Challenge 25 proof of age requirement. This meant that staff working at the premises were to ask individuals who appeared to be under 25 years of age, attempting to purchase alcohol, to produce identification. The only acceptable identification documents would be: -         A photo driving licence -         A passport -         An identification card carrying the PASS hologram Unless such identification was produced, the sale of alcohol was to be refused. This policy would include documented steps taken to prevent adults from purchasing alcohol for or on behalf of children under 18. 14.The premises should display prominent signage indicating at any point of sale that a Challenge 25 scheme is in operation.   15.An alcohol sales refusal register should be kept at the premises and be maintained to include details of all alcohol sales refused. The register would include:                             i.           the date and time of refusal                            ii.           the reason for refusal                          iii.           details of the person refusing the sale                          iv.           description of the customer                           v.           any other relevant observations The refusals register would be made available for inspection and copying on request of an authorised officer of a responsible authority. All entries must be made within 24 hours of the refusal.     Further CCTV and Alcohol Related Conditions   1.     The premises should install and maintain a comprehensive CCTV system as per the minimum requirements of the Hounslow Police Licensing Team. All entry and exit points would be covered to enable frontal identification of every person entering in any light condition. The CCTV system should continually record whilst the premises was open for licensable activities and during all times when customers remain on the premises. All recordings should be stored for a minimum period of 31 days with date and time stamping. Viewing of recordings should be made available immediately upon the request of the Police or authorised officer throughout the entire 31-day period.   2.     A staff member from the premises who was conversant with the operation of the CCTV system should be on the premises at all times when the premises were open. This staff member had to be able to provide a Police or authorised council officer copies of recent CCTV images or data with the absolute minimum of delay when requested.   3.     No alcohol should be supplied if the CCTV equipment is inoperative for any reason.   4.     In the event that a serious assault was committed on the premises (or appeared to have been committed), the management would immediately ensure that: a)     The police (and, where appropriate, the London Ambulance Service) were called without delay; b)     All measures that were reasonably practicable were taken to apprehend any suspects pending the arrival of the police; c)     The crime scene was preserved so as to enable a full forensic investigation to be carried out by the police; and d)     Such other measures were taken (as appropriate) to fully protect the safety of all persons present on the premises.   5.     No open vessels were to be taken outside the curtilage of the premises at any time.   This licence became operational with immediate effect. If any problems were experienced, an application for a review of the premises licence can be made.     Right to Appeal   Any party aggrieved by the decision of the Licensing Panel may appeal to the local Magistrate’s Court under Schedule 5 of the Licensing Act 2003 within 21 days of being notified of this decision.   Licensing Panel 25th September 2025.