Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: November 20, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Notification of decision following a Licensing Panel hearing to determine an application for the grant of a premises licence under section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003   PREMISES:    Syon House, Syon Park, Brentford TW8 8JF   APPLICANT:  Syon House Ventures    TAKE NOTICE THAT on Thursday 22nd May 2025,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 as follows:   Decision   To Grant with amendments, the application for a new premises licence for Syon House, Syon Park, Brentford TW8 8JF, as follows:   Supply of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises: Monday to Sunday 10:00 to 02:00   Performance of Plays - Indoors Monday to Sunday 23:00 to 02:00   Live Music - Indoors Monday to Sunday 23:00 to 02:00   Recorded Music - Indoors Monday to Sunday 23:00 to 02:00   Performance of Dance - Indoors Monday to Sunday 23:00 to 02:00   Late Night Refreshment – Indoors and Outdoors Monday to Sunday 23:00 to 02:00   The opening hours of the premises: Monday to Sunday 10:00 to 03:00   Conditions:   1.           For all events that exceed 3000 people, an Event Safety Management Plan (ESMP) will need to be brought to the attention of the Safety Advisory Group (SAG). The Event organiser and or Premises License Holder will undertake a full and detailed consultation with each of the responsible authorities. This consultation will take place through the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), chaired by the London Borough of Hounslow, in the lead-up to the event.   An initial Event Safety Management Plan (ESMP) (first draft) shall be made available to the Licensing Authority at least 90 days prior to the commencement of the event period, that will include any additional information or improvements identified and agreed upon from the previous event’s multi-agency debrief.   The ESMP shall contain detailed proposals for each event in policies and plans to promote all the licensing objectives of public safety, prevention of crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm. The ESMP shall be made up of the following documentation, separated into specific chapters covering the proposed plan and control measures for the event:   ·        Alcohol and Drug Management Plan; ·        Command, Control and Communications Plan; ·        Fire Safety Management Plan; ·        Major Incident Plan; ·        Medical and Welfare Plan for members of the public attending the event and staff working at the event; ·        Noise Management Plan; ·        Sanitary Facilities Plan; ·        Security and Stewarding Operational Plan; ·        Site Plan; ·        Ticket and Entry Policy; ·        Trader Information Management Plan; ·        Traffic and Transport Management Plan; ·        Waste Management Plan; ·        Water Supply Plan; ·        Adverse Weather Plan; ·        Schedule of Key Dates. ·        Crowd Management Plan (To include Crime Prevention/Reduction, ·        Crowd Dynamics and Ticket and Entry Policy   A final ESMP shall be made available to the Licensing Authority and Responsible Authorities no less than 28 days before the start of the event period. The contents of the ESMP shall be fully complied with, which shall convert to a condition of the Licence on receipt of the approval in writing from the Licensing Authority. No major changes will be made to the ESMP; any minor changes will be regularly updated to the local authority as soon as possible. Following the circulation of the draft ESMPs, the premises licence holder, or an agent on behalf of and under the authority of the premises licence holder, shall consult with all responsible authorities and shall take due account of any advice made by a responsible authority regarding the content of the ESMP documents.     2.           The premises licence holder, or their appointed representative, shall present, by oral and written presentation, the draft ESMPs to the London Borough of Hounslow’s Safety Advisory Group no later than two months prior to the date of the event. Following this presentation, a second presentation shall be organised and take place no later than four weeks prior to the date of the event, whereby the premises licence holder, or their appointed representative, shall present, by oral and written presentation, the final versions of the ESMPs to the London Borough of Hounslow’s Safety Advisory Group.     3.           In the event that a serious assault is committed at the event (or appears to have been committed), the management will immediately ensure that:   ·        The police (and, where appropriate, the London Ambulance Service) are called without delay; ·        The crime scene is preserved so as to enable a full forensic investigation to be carried out by the police; and ·        Such other measures are taken (as appropriate) to fully protect the safety of all persons present on the premises.   4.           There shall be a personal license holder on duty on the premises at all times when the premises are authorised to sell alcohol.   5.           A Challenge 25 proof of age scheme shall be operated at the premises where the only acceptable forms of identification are recognised photographic identification cards, such as a driving Licence, passport or proof of age card with the PASS (Proof of Age Standards Scheme) Hologram.   6.           The premises License holder and or DPS will be responsible for risk assessing any event (with a capacity of under 3000 people), and making sure the relevant amount of full training SIA security staff is in place. Who are supplied by an SIA-approved business.   7.           Any events held in the front (West) lawn of Syon House are to finish no later than 22:00, and the number of events held in the front lawn and finishing at 22:00 will be restricted to no more than 30 events per calendar year.    8.           The number of events held at the Premises finishing at 02:00 will be restricted to no more than 15 events per calendar year.       Reasons     1)           The Panel convened in person to determine an application from Syon House Ventures (the “Applicant”), which is the trading name for events at the premises Syon House, Syon Park, Brentford TW8 8JF (the “Premises”), for a new premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003.    2)           The Premises is a Grade 1 listed building with surrounding grounds that is not currently licensed and is located in Syon Park, with housing nearby adjacent to the park.   In addition to Syon House, there is also an event space known as the Clementine that is within part of the Syon House grounds, and a Hilton Hotel, which is within Syon Park, with both of those currently holding a premises licence.    3)           At the hearing, the Applicant was represented by their Agent, Mike Nickson of Inn Confidence, along with Victoria Corke and Tori Holcomb of the Applicant and Michael Baxter, an Agent for the Duke of  Northumberland.    4)           The objectors consist of residents near the Premises and Syon Park.  Five of the objectors also attended in person, although the Panel was informed that one of the objectors was also asked to speak on behalf of some other objectors who were unable to attend the hearing.  The Licensing Authority did not have prior notification of this, and the Panel was told the names of the other objectors they were asked to speak on behalf of.  The Applicant had no objection to this, and the Panel allowed the objector to speak on behalf of the other named objectors.   5)           In making its decision, the Panel considered all the relevant information, including:   ·        Written and Oral representations by all the parties ·        The Licensing Act 2003 and the steps appropriate to promotethe Licensing Objectives ·        The guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 (the “Statutory Guidance”) ·        Hounslow Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy 2020-2025 (the “Council’s Policy”) ·        The Human Rights Act 1998   6)           The Panel reviewed the conditions proposed in the application and those conditions agreed with the Police and Licensing Authority, shown at Appendix C, that seek to address the licensing objectives of prevention of crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance, protection of children from harm and public safety.    7)           In expanding on their application, the Applicant informed the Panel that Syon House had never held a premises licence but had held events under temporary event notices (TENS) without the same level of conditions they were proposing in their application.  It was also highlighted that none of the Responsible Authorities had made any representations, and that conditions had been agreed with the Police and Licensing Authority.  The Panel was informed that the Applicant was seeking a licence primarily to hold pre-booked events, although they may on occasion have ticketed events where the public may be able to attend.   The Panel was informed that most of their clientele were high-net-worth individuals/groups, and that they engage early with groups looking to hire the venue to let them know of restrictions applicable to the Premises, such as no fireworks to be allowed.   They stated that many of the representations made by the objectors did not appreciate the nature of the events they proposed to hold, and that they had held a meeting with some of the objectors.   8)           In addition, the Applicant stated they were willing to offer further conditions such that they would agree to restrict the number of events held in the front lawn of Syon House (that being the western lawn space in front of Syon House up to the front railings) with a termination time of 22:00 to no more than 30 in a year, and to restrict the number of events with a termination time of 02:00 to no more than 15 per year.    9)           In relation to the concerns raised by the objectors, which are shown in Appendix B, one of the primary concerns they raised, both in writing and in their oral submissions at the hearing, was the potential impact of noise nuisance if the licence was granted and the Premises allowed to hold events and provide alcohol and late-night refreshments on and off the Premises up to 02:00 on any day.  In their submissions, they referred to issues of existing noise nuisance from the Hilton Hotel and Clementine Tent, which are also located within Syon Park and are run by different licence holders.  One of the objectors also commented that noise could be heard from the Coach and Horses pub, which was located on London Road and outside of Syon Park.      10)       The Panel was informed that during the summer months, as the days were longer, there was concern that this would cause further disruption to their lives, and there did not appear to be any attempt to control the events held at these other venues.  Furthermore, the potential for events going on until 2.00 am, potentially on any day of the week, could lead to disruption of their sleep.   This could be even worse if these events are held in marquees in the grounds of Syon House, which would have less sound protection than events held within the main Syon House building.   11)       One of the objectors presented a list of conditions they would want to see added to the premises licence if one were granted.  This was shown to all other parties, who did not object to its inclusion, before it was then presented to the Panel, which considered the same. The Applicant confirmed that whilst they did not object to the document being permitted, they did not agree to any of these proposed conditions.   12)       During questioning, the Applicant acknowledged that the application, if granted and with their offered restrictions on the number of events finishing at 02:00, could still mean they could hold unlimited events finishing at midnight.  In relation to the application seeking to include off-sales of alcohol, this was so they could hold events such as a food and wine event, then attendees could purchase alcohol to take home.   13)       In relation to the entry and departure of attendees, the Panel was informed that most of their clients are high-net-worth individuals and so would likely be chauffeured or would get cabs.   14)       The Objectors also expressed concern over the extent to which the application was advertised, and there were some comments about the potential effect of further events on the local wildlife. In relation to the advertisement of the application, the Applicant stated this was published in compliance with their legal obligations, and the Licensing Authority had no information to say there was any breach of this.  As for any wildlife issues, if there were any requirements to be complied with by a party, be that the Applicant or another licence holder, then they must ensure they comply with the same.    A comment was also made about the need for further licensed premises in and around Syon Park, but the question of need was not one for the Panel to consider.   15)       In considering all the representations, the Panel took into account the conditions agreed with the Police and Licensing Authority, as well as the new offered conditions restricting the number of events held on the West Lawn of the Premises and finishing at 22:00 and the number of events finishing at 02:00.  The Panel considered that all these proposed conditions were sufficient to address concerns over the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance, public safety and the protection of children from harm.  With the Applicant offering to restrict the number of events held on the West Lawn, finishing at 22:00 to no more than 30 events per year, the Panel considered it would also be appropriate for the sake of clarity to confirm that any events held on the West Lawn should have a termination time of 22:00.   16)       The Panel was also mindful that the Premises is a Grade 1 listed building, and therefore, they are not the same as a purpose-built event space.  Furthermore, whilst the objectors had raised issues about noise nuisance from other venues in and around Syon Park, no complaints had been made about any events held at Syon Park and operated under a TEN.  If there are concerns about how other licensed venues are operating, then a party would be entitled to bring an application for a review of their premises licence, which should be supported with appropriate evidence.   17)       For these reasons, the Panel decided to grant the licence with the hours and conditions as set out in this Decision, comprising the conditions agreed with the Police and Licensing Authority, and the conditions placing restrictions on the number of events as outlined above.   18)       Whilst the Panel was not making it a condition, the Panel noted there was discussion between the parties about notifying residents about events occurring at Syon Park.  If the Objectors were able to provide the Applicant with an email address, or some other single point of contact or means of communication, then the Panel would welcome the Applicant giving notice to the Objectors of any future events at Syon Park.     Right to Appeal   19)       Any party aggrieved with the decision of the Licensing Panel on one or more grounds set out in Schedule 5 of the Licensing Act 2003 may appeal to the local Magistrate’s Court within 21 days of notification of this decision.