The Licensing Sub-Committee met to consider an expedited review of the premises licence for The Chequers pub, following an incident of violent disorder. The committee decided to suspend the licence for four weeks, remove the Designated Premises Supervisor, and impose a raft of new conditions to promote the licensing objectives.

Review of The Chequers Premises Licence

The subcommittee convened for an expedited review of the premises licence for The Chequers, located at 121 North Street, Hornchurch, RM11 1ST. This review was initiated following an incident of violent disorder that occurred in the early hours of March 11, 2026. The police contended that this incident, coupled with other licensing failures, necessitated a review of the licence.

The meeting heard representations from various parties, including the Metropolitan Police, the Licensing Authority, and the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). The licence holder's representatives presented arguments for a less severe sanction, highlighting the pub's long history and its role as a community hub.

Key discussions and decisions included:

• Violent Disorder and Licensing Failures: The police presented evidence of violent disorder at the premises, involving multiple individuals. They also raised concerns about the premises operating outside of its licensed hours, with till receipts and CCTV footage suggesting habitual late-night sales of alcohol. Furthermore, it was noted that no SIA-licensed door staff were present during the incident, and staff failed to call the police or make an entry in the incident log. The LADO, Lisa Kennedy, expressed concerns about the potential risk to children if such incidents occurred when they were present, citing the lack of appropriate emergency procedures and staff training.

• Arguments for Sanctions: The police argued for the revocation of the licence, citing a breakdown in trust and a poor management culture at the premises. They highlighted that the incident met the criteria for serious crime and serious disorder.

• Defence and Mitigation: The licence holder's representatives, led by barrister Duncan Craig, acknowledged that the premises could have handled the situation better but argued against revocation. They emphasised the pub's 20-year history of operation without a previous review and presented a new set of proposed conditions, developed in consultation with the police, which they argued were more robust and enforceable than the existing ones. They also highlighted that the current licence holder, Jagtar Sandhu, is unwell, and his son, Parvindajit Sandhu, who has prior management experience, is set to take over. Danielle Cassar, the manager, was proposed as the new Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS).

• Proposed Conditions: A significant portion of the discussion focused on updating and strengthening the conditions attached to the licence. These included requirements for:

  • Mandatory SIA-licensed door staff during high-profile sporting events.
  • Enhanced CCTV coverage of entrances and the interior.
  • A comprehensive incident log and staff training on crime scene management and emergency procedures.
  • A Challenge 25 policy for age verification.
  • The implementation of specific policies on drugs, safeguarding, noise management, and security.
  • The use of toughened glass for all draft beer and cider.
  • A commitment to barring individuals involved in the incident for life.

• Decision: After deliberation, the subcommittee decided to suspend the licence for four weeks. They also removed the Designated Premises Supervisor and imposed a comprehensive set of new conditions, including those discussed and agreed upon during the hearing, as well as additional conditions related to WAVE (likely a safeguarding initiative), Ask for Angela training, and enhanced CCTV. These new conditions aim to address the identified failings and promote the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. The interim steps imposed previously were replaced by this decision.

Full written reasons for the decision and details of the imposed conditions will be sent to all parties within five working days. Any party with a relevant representation may appeal to the magistrates' court within 21 days of receiving the written decision.