The Licensing Sub-Committee (4) of Westminster Council met on Thursday 15 February 2024 to consider two new premises licence applications. The applications were for Argyll at 20 North Audley Street and Park Modern Apartments at 123 Bayswater Road.

Argyll, 20 North Audley Street

The committee was scheduled to discuss a new premises licence application for Argyll, located at 20 North Audley Street, London W1K 6WP. The premises proposes to operate as a high-end serviced office company, where clients can order alcohol and food to accompany corporate events. The application sought permission for late-night refreshment indoors from 11:00 pm to midnight daily, and the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises from 8:30 am to midnight daily.

Representations were received from Environmental Health, raising concerns about public nuisance and public safety due to the requested hours extending beyond the council's core hours¹. The Environmental Health Service also highlighted the risk associated with a terrace on the fifth floor. Objections were also lodged by other persons and residents' associations, citing potential noise from open windows and the terrace, as well as concerns about deliveries and waste. Proposed conditions included limiting the number of people on the fifth-floor terrace, restricting deliveries and waste collections to specific hours, and ensuring alcohol sales are ancillary to the main function of the serviced office.

Park Modern Apartments, 123 Bayswater Road

The committee was also scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Park Modern Apartments, located at 123 Bayswater Road, London W2 3JH. The premises intends to operate as a high-class restaurant with external seating, where alcohol and food would be available. The application sought permission for late-night refreshment indoors from 11:00 pm to midnight Monday to Thursday, and until 12:30 am on Fridays and Saturdays. The sale of alcohol for consumption both on and off the premises was requested from 8:00 am to 11:30 pm Monday to Thursday, until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 10:30 pm on Sundays.

The Metropolitan Police Service initially made representations opposing the application, citing concerns about the potential for increased crime and disorder within the Bayswater Special Consideration Zone (SCZ), which already experiences issues such as violent crime and late-night robberies. However, these representations were withdrawn following agreement on amended conditions. Environmental Health also made representations, noting that the provision of alcohol and late-night refreshment, along with non-standard timings, could lead to an increase in public nuisance and impact public safety. Objections were also raised by the Bayswater Residents Association and the Southern East Bayswater Residents Association (SEBRA), who expressed concerns about public nuisance, particularly regarding dispersal of customers late at night, servicing issues, and the proposed hours extending beyond the council's core hours for restaurants. SEBRA specifically requested that the premises operate strictly as a restaurant, with conditions to ensure food consumption is ancillary to alcohol sales, and proposed stricter hours for deliveries and waste collections.