The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a new premises licence for The Mirror Café, 4 Church Court, Richmond, TW9 1JL, with modified hours for alcohol sales and opening times, and imposed several conditions including no live music. The committee also decided to grant the application for a new premises licence with conditions, including restricted alcohol sales hours and a maximum capacity for the basement.

The Mirror Café, Richmond

The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a new premises licence for The Mirror Café, located at 4 Church Court, Richmond, TW9 1JL. The licence permits the sale of alcohol (on and off) from Monday to Sunday, 11:00 to 22:00, and the premises will be open to the public from Monday to Sunday, 07:00 to 23:00.

Several conditions were imposed on the licence. Live music was refused due to concerns about public nuisance and the protection of children from harm. Alcohol sales must be ancillary to food in both the café and the basement, and the basement capacity is restricted to a maximum of 10 people at any time. A delivery service for alcohol is prohibited. The licence holder, Ms. Evren Yazici, also agreed to conditions with the Metropolitan Police Service, which include staff training on alcohol awareness and underage sales prevention, maintaining an incident logbook, and installing a comprehensive CCTV system.

The decision followed representations from local residents and resident associations, who raised concerns about potential noise, public nuisance, crime and disorder, and the protection of children from harm. These concerns were particularly focused on the proposed sale of alcohol and live music, and the cumulative impact of licensed premises in the Richmond Town Centre Cumulative Impact Zone.

Ms. Yazici, the applicant, stated her intention to operate a responsible, family-run café and acknowledged past administrative errors, such as the display of alcohol and the use of outdoor furniture without a pavement licence. She committed to addressing residents' concerns and accepting appropriate conditions.

During the hearing, Peter Willan, representing the Friends of Richmond Green (FoRG), expressed concerns about noise levels, the adequacy of fire safety measures, and the capacity of the premises. Virginia Curry, representing The Richmond Society, echoed these concerns, particularly regarding the impact on residents living above the café and the suitability of the historic alleyway for such activities. Sofia Gammelgard, a local resident, detailed the significant noise disturbance experienced from previous events, including karaoke nights, and the impact on her family's ability to sleep and work.

The Licensing Officer, Sumeet Anand, addressed concerns about the pavement licence, reminding the applicant of restrictions on the placement and removal of outdoor furniture and a no-smoking condition. He also advised residents to report noise complaints to the Council's Noise Team to ensure they are logged and investigated.

The Sub-Committee considered the application on its merits, taking into account the Cumulative Impact Policy and the evidence presented. They noted that while the applicant was a new operator, concerns about noise, public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm, particularly in relation to live music and the basement capacity, were significant. The decision to refuse live music was made to uphold the licensing objectives. The Sub-Committee concluded that the imposed conditions would ensure all licensing objectives are met and that the premises would not negatively contribute to the cumulative impact in the area.