The Licensing Sub-Committee (3) of Westminster Council met on Thursday 30 September 2021 to consider two applications for premises licences. The committee granted the application for Wing Wing, a restaurant on Charing Cross Road, subject to additional conditions, and also granted the application for a shadow licence for premises at 13 Mason's Yard.

Wing Wing, 47-49 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0AN

The committee granted the application for a variation of the premises licence for Wing Wing, located at 47-49 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0AN, subject to additional conditions. The applicant, Wing Wing Holdings Limited, sought to amend the layout of the premises across three floors and alter existing licence conditions.

Key changes to the layout included reducing the licensed area on the first floor to accommodate new toilet facilities and fixed seating, reconfiguring the ground floor service area and removing the bar servery, and opening up part of the basement back-of-house for dining space. The applicant also proposed amendments to conditions 9, 10, 11, and 13 of the licence.

During the meeting, it was confirmed that the applicant had withdrawn the proposed extension to the hours for late-night refreshment, which had been a primary concern for local residents and the Licensing Authority. Environmental Health had also suggested a capacity limit of 120 customers, which the applicant agreed to. The committee noted that the revised layout would result in a modest increase in the licensable area but a significant reduction in overall capacity from 180/160 to 120 customers. The relocation of the bar area to the basement was seen as a positive step, making alcohol less visible from the street and easier to control. The applicant also agreed to amend condition 10 to prohibit the self-service of alcohol.

The committee was satisfied that the application, with the agreed amendments and additional conditions, would promote the licensing objectives, ensure no increase in cumulative impact in the West End Cumulative Impact Area¹, and mitigate the concerns raised by local residents.

Shadow Licence, Basement and Ground Floor, 13 Mason's Yard, SW1Y 6BU

The Licensing Sub-Committee granted the application for a shadow licence for the basement and ground floor of 13 Mason's Yard, London SW1Y 6BU. The applicant, Milestone Investment Limited, sought the shadow licence to be held in its name, mirroring the existing licence for the premises which operates as a nightclub. The shadow licence would not operate concurrently with the current licence.

Representations were received from the Metropolitan Police and three local residents, with one resident and the Police representation later withdrawn following discussions and the agreement of an additional condition. Objectors had raised concerns about potential noise disturbance and drunken behaviour in the residential area.

The applicant's representative, Robert Sutherland, explained that the shadow licence was sought by the landlord to protect his interests and that the applicant took a keen interest in the premises' operation. He confirmed that the proposed conditions, including the additional condition agreed with the Police, ensured the shadow licence would not become operational without a further application to the Licensing Authority.

The committee considered that the premises were not located within a Cumulative Impact Area and therefore the application was assessed on its merits. The extensive proposed conditions, including the additional condition agreed with the Police, were deemed appropriate and provided reassurance. The committee was satisfied that the application was suitable for the local area and promoted the licensing objectives. The granted licence includes specific hours for live and recorded music, dance, late-night refreshment, and the sale of alcohol, along with numerous additional conditions relating to noise, waste management, CCTV, and customer conduct. Notably, the shadow licence will not take effect while the current licence is in operation, and specific cooling-off periods and management restrictions are in place in the event of the current licence being revoked.