The Licensing Sub Committee C met on Tuesday 11 January 2011 to consider applications for variations to licences for Efes Snooker Club and Tesco. The committee approved the application for Tesco in full, but approved the application for Efes Snooker Club only in part, with several additional conditions imposed.

Efes Snooker Club

The committee considered an application for a variation of the premises licence for Efes Snooker Club, located at 17b Stoke Newington Road, N16, to include recorded music and to replace existing conditions with new ones. Representations were received from Pollution Control, the police, and two interested parties.

The applicant's representative, Graham Hopkins, stated that the applicant, Yasar Akin, had run the club successfully for three years and had a zero-tolerance policy towards drug use. He explained that the clientele varied, with Turkish patrons in the daytime and British patrons in the evening who preferred louder music. Mr. Hopkins indicated a willingness to implement recommendations from a noise report and measures proposed by Pollution Control, as well as conditions proposed by the police. However, a disagreement arose regarding the number of SIA licensed door supervisors required. The applicant proposed one door supervisor from 11 pm to closing on Thursdays to Saturdays, with an additional supervisor if music was playing, citing cost concerns. The police, represented by PC Merry, insisted on two door supervisors from 9 pm to closing on Thursdays to Saturdays, citing persistent breaches of licence conditions, particularly regarding SIA door supervisors, and concerns about crowd control if recorded music was permitted.

An interested party, Julian Izzo, who lives nearby, raised concerns about noise from smokers in the upstairs outside smoking area and from loud music, even with windows closed. The Pollution Control Officer suggested that smokers use the front of the premises on Stoke Newington Road rather than the side entrance on Trumans Road, which was closer to residential properties.

The sub-committee was informed that the premises had been issued with a section 19 CJP closure notice on 18 December 2010, after which they had complied with SIA requirements. Despite this, PC Merry believed the premises needed time to demonstrate compliance before any variation was granted, especially with the addition of recorded music, which could change the nature of the venue.

Following a break, Mr. Hopkins proposed compromises, including smoking ceasing in the upstairs area at 10 pm, two door supervisors from 10 pm to close on Thursdays to Saturdays, the Trumans Road door being used only as an emergency exit, and the installation of a noise limiter and lobby doors.

The sub-committee resolved to approve the application in part, with no regulated entertainment. Additional conditions were imposed, including:

• Smoking to cease in the upstairs outside smoking area at 10 pm, with smoking only permitted at the front of the premises on Stoke Newington Road, limited to 10 patrons at any one time.
• Two SIA door supervisors to be present from 10 pm until close on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with search procedures in place and all details recorded and made available to the police.
• Doors and windows at the premises to remain closed except for ingress and egress.
• Snooker and pool cues to remain behind the bar when not in use.
• The door leading to Trumans Road to be used as an emergency exit only.
• The premises licence holder to retain at least four snooker tables and five pool tables.

The committee was not satisfied that the licensing objectives would be met if regulated entertainment in the form of recorded music was provided.

Tesco

The committee also considered an application for a new premises licence for Tesco, located at 144 Lower Clapton Road, E5, to permit the supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises. No representations were received from Responsible Authorities, but one interested party had made a representation, though they were not in attendance.

Jeremy Bark, the agent for Tesco, stated that Tesco had six premises within the borough, all of which promoted licensing objectives. He addressed concerns about planning permission and alcohol deliveries, explaining that deliveries would be part of general goods deliveries. Tesco intended to sell a limited range of alcohol, primarily wine, with spirits and champagne not on main displays and only a very limited range of spirits stocked. Beer would only be sold in four-packs.

Mr. Bark outlined Tesco's good neighbour policy, its Think 25 policy, and its training practices for the responsible sale of alcohol. He also noted that 98% of delivery waste was recycled and that anti-social behaviour was not tolerated. The application sought to sell alcohol from 6 am, coinciding with the store's opening hours, a policy consistent with other Tesco stores in the borough.

The sub-committee resolved to approve the application in accordance with the Council's licensing statement and the proposed conditions, being satisfied that the licensing objectives would not be undermined.