The Licensing Sub-Committee of Richmond upon Thames Council met on Thursday, 7 March 2024, to determine an opposed application for a new premises licence for Quarter Italia at 190 Castelnau, Barnes SW13 9DH. The committee granted the application with amended hours and several new conditions, following representations from local residents and the applicant.

Quarter Italia Premises Licence Application

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an opposed application for a new premises licence for Quarter Italia, located at 190 Castelnau, Barnes SW13 9DH. The application sought permission to sell alcohol for both on and off-site consumption.

Decision: The application was granted with amended hours and subject to a number of conditions.

Details of the Decision:

• Amended Hours: The sale of alcohol (on and off the premises) will be permitted from 11:00 to 22:30, Monday to Sunday. The premises will be open to the public from 07:00 to 23:00, Monday to Sunday.
• Conditions Imposed:
  • A Designated Premises Supervisor must be present at all times when alcohol is being sold.
  • Measures must be in place to prevent fumes or odours from the premises causing a nuisance to neighbours.
  • The forecourt area, where off-sales are permitted to those seated at a table, will be limited to three tables, each seating two people, and must close at 9 pm.
  • No off-sales of alcohol will be permitted for walk-ins, collections, or deliveries.
  • The applicant must install and maintain a comprehensive CCTV system, with recordings stored for a minimum of 31 days and made available to the police or authorised officers upon request.
  • Alcohol can only be sold to customers who are waiting for a table, are taking, or have taken a table meal, and must be accompanied by a substantial meal.
  • All staff must undergo training on alcohol sales, underage sales prevention, and Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE). Training records must be maintained and available for inspection.
  • An incident logbook must be kept and made available to the police or Licensing Authority.
  • Staff will routinely check the premises and surrounding area for cleanliness and tidiness.
  • Staff will telephone for taxis for customers to prevent them from waiting outside.
  • All staff will be trained to ask customers to leave quietly in the evening, and appropriate signage will be displayed.
  • Notices detailing restrictions on sales to children must be prominently displayed.

Background to the Decision:

The application received 17 representations from local residents, primarily concerned about potential noise nuisance, anti-social behaviour, and the impact of late-night alcohol sales, particularly from the outside seating area. Residents highlighted a history of disturbances from previous businesses at the same address.

The applicant, Mr. Doron Zilkha, who lives locally and has held a personal licence since 2006, stated that Quarter Italia (trading as Quarter Kitchen) aims to be a dining restaurant for a mature clientele, with a focus on quality food and responsible alcohol consumption with meals. He proposed amended hours and agreed to several conditions with the Metropolitan Police, including CCTV, staff training, and specific rules for alcohol sales.

During the hearing, Mr. Zilkha offered to withdraw the application for off-sales of alcohol for sealed containers, stating it was not essential to the business. He also agreed to limit the use of the three outdoor tables to diners and to cease serving at these tables by 9 pm. He expressed a willingness to address any concerns raised by neighbours.

Christine Albrow, representing local residents, reiterated concerns about noise and public nuisance, referencing past issues with the premises. She suggested that indoor seating with windows open could offer a similar experience to outdoor seating without impacting neighbours. She also raised concerns about air conditioning noise and flue odours.

The Licensing Officer clarified that ventilation and extraction systems are typically planning matters, and any statutory nuisance should be reported to the Noise Team. The Legal Officer noted that residents could seek a review of the licence if issues persisted and advised contacting Planning Enforcement regarding the flue.

The Sub-Committee considered the representations and the applicant's responses, concluding that appropriate and proportionate conditions could be imposed to address the concerns raised. The decision noted that the history of previous restaurants at the premises was not a matter for the Licensing Act 2003 application, beyond the conditions imposed.