The Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee of Brent Council was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Palm Island Lounge. The meeting's agenda focused solely on this application, with no other items listed for discussion.

Application for a New Premises Licence: Palm Island Lounge

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for a new premises licence for Palm Island Lounge, located at 1 Craven Park Road, NW10 8SE. The applicant, Kingsley Adjei, sought to provide recorded music and late-night refreshment from 11 pm to 11:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. The sale of alcohol and the premises' opening hours were proposed from 2 pm to 11:30 pm from Sunday to Thursday, and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

The report pack detailed significant concerns raised by various parties regarding this application. The premises had a history of issues when it previously operated as Vybz Bar, which had its licence revoked in 2022 due to crime and disorder.

Representations and Concerns:

• The Licensing Police submitted an objection, citing concerns about the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and public nuisance. They noted that the previous operation of Vybz Bar led to frequent police attendance and serious incidents. While the applicant proposed a revised operating schedule, the police expressed concern that the venue could revert to its previous problematic status. They recommended a series of conditions if the licence were to be granted, including stringent CCTV requirements, a Challenge 25 policy, and restrictions on alcohol sales to be ancillary to meals.
• Licensing Officers raised several points requiring clarification from the applicant, including evidence for the proposed capacity, details on seating arrangements, cuisine type, and the use of SIA staff. They indicated a proposal to refuse the application until further information was provided.
• Ward Councillors, including Councillor Matt Kelcher, also objected to the application. Their concerns focused on the potential for increased anti-social behaviour, parking issues, and the strain on reduced policing resources. They questioned the applicant's strategy for preventing crime and disorder, public safety measures, and the potential for public nuisance, particularly regarding noise. They also raised questions about the applicant's experience and whether the venue was truly intended as a restaurant or a disguised nightclub.
• Local Residents submitted objections, primarily focusing on the prevention of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder. They highlighted the historical noise pollution from the previous Vybz Bar, which they stated could be heard across the neighbourhood until the early hours of the morning, accompanied by shouting and brawls. Concerns were also raised about drug use, anti-social behaviour, and the potential for increased public safety issues, especially given the proximity to residential areas and the history of planning breaches by the applicant.

Applicant's Responses and Proposed Modifications:

The applicant, Kingsley Adjei, through his legal representatives, provided responses to the concerns raised. He stated that the premises would operate as a bona fide restaurant, serving West African and Mediterranean cuisine, with alcohol sales being ancillary to meals. He proposed that all patrons would be seated and served by waiter/waitress service, with no vertical drinking permitted.

Key modifications and assurances offered by the applicant included:

• Withdrawal of the application for regulated entertainment (recorded music).
• Agreement to restrict the use of the rear garden to non-licensable hours, closing by 9:30 pm on Sundays to Thursdays and 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, to mitigate noise disturbance to neighbours.
• Commitment to employing SIA staff, with an initial deployment of two door supervisors, subject to risk assessment.
• Confirmation that an ID scanner would be used, but with a suggestion that its use could be limited if the premises operated under restaurant conditions.
• A commitment to a fire risk assessment to determine the premises' capacity, with the applicant envisaging a significantly lower number of patrons than initially suggested.
• An assurance that the applicant would be on-site daily to manage the premises.

Discussions were held between the applicant's legal team, the police, and the Licensing Authority. The police indicated that their concerns were addressed through agreed conditions, leading them to withdraw their representation. The Licensing Authority also proposed a list of conditions for the licence, which the applicant's representatives indicated they were willing to accept. These conditions aimed to ensure the promotion of the four licensing objectives.

The report pack also included appendices detailing the applicant's proposed operating schedule, an anti-social behaviour policy, and a list of other operational policies.