The Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee of Brent Council met on Tuesday 23 January 2024. The primary item on the agenda was a review of a premises licence for Santafe Hall following a closure order issued by the Metropolitan Police.

Review of Premises Licence for Santafe Hall

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application for the review of the premises licence for Santafe Hall, located at 202 High Street, NW10 4SY. This review was initiated by the Metropolitan Police following a closure order issued under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. The closure order, granted by Willesden Magistrates Court, was in effect for three months, ending on 27 March 2024.

The grounds for the review were the prevention of crime and disorder, and the prevention of public nuisance. The report pack indicated that representations had been received from various parties, including the SNT Police, Licensing Police, NCT, Licensing Officers, and a ward councillor.

The premises, Santafe Hall, is licensed for live and recorded music, and to remain open from 7 am to 4 am daily. It is also licensed for late-night refreshment from 11 pm to 4 am and the sale of alcohol from 11 am to 4 am. The Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) at the time of the review application was Miss Priscilla Hilaria Dos Santos.

The report pack detailed a history of issues related to the premises, dating back to 2021. These included licensing breaches identified during inspections, such as the display of the premises licence summary, the number of door supervisors employed, and the age verification scheme. There were also ongoing complaints regarding noise disturbance, with residents reporting issues with intoxicated and disorderly behaviour from customers.

The Metropolitan Police provided representations highlighting suspected drug dealing at the premises, with a warrant executed on 17 November 2023 resulting in the discovery of suspected Class A drugs. The police requested the revocation of the premises licence, arguing that its continuation would undermine all four licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance.

The Licensing Authority also submitted representations, noting that they had exhausted all avenues to assist the licensee in promoting the licensable objectives. They pointed to direct contraventions of the premises licence requirements, leading to public nuisance, impacting public safety, and potentially increasing crime and disorder. The Licensing Authority recommended the revocation of the premises licence for Santafe Hall due to ongoing non-compliance and a disregard for the licensing objectives.

The Nuisance Control Team also made representations, citing a history of noise complaints from local residents since May 2021. These complaints detailed loud amplified music, particularly at night, disturbing sleep and causing a general nuisance. A Noise Abatement Notice was served on the Designated Premises Supervisor, Priscilla Hilaria Dos Santos, on 8 December 2023, due to the likelihood of statutory nuisance. The Nuisance Control Team recommended the revocation of the premises licence, stating that the licensees appeared incapable of managing the premises without causing a nuisance.

The report pack outlined the potential actions the sub-committee could take if satisfied that additional measures were required to meet the four licensing objectives. These included modifying, removing, or adding conditions to the licence; excluding licensable activities; removing the Designated Premises Supervisor; suspending the licence for up to three months; or revoking the licence.

The meeting was scheduled to include introductions and the consideration of apologies for absence and clarification of alternate members, followed by declarations of interest.