The Licensing Sub Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Thursday 22 September 2022 to consider applications for variations to premises licences. Decisions were made regarding the Liberty Lounge and the Broadcast Cafe.

Liberty Lounge Licence Variation

The committee considered an application to vary the premises licence for the Liberty Lounge, located at A1 Bell Lane, London E17LA. The proposed variation included an extension of one hour for alcohol and live music on Thursdays until 1 am, and on Fridays and Saturdays until 2 am. It also sought to add recorded music on Sundays to Tuesdays until 11:30 pm, Wednesdays until midnight, Thursdays until 1 am, and Fridays and Saturdays until 2 am. Additionally, the application requested an extension of late-night refreshment hours by an hour and a half on Thursdays until 1:30 am, and Fridays and Saturdays until 2:30 am. The applicant also proposed removing existing conditions on the licence and replacing them with new ones, including the provision of a Security Industry Authority (SIA) licensed guard on Thursdays to Saturdays from 9 pm until close.

Representations were received from Environmental Health, local residents, and the resident association SPIRE. The applicant, represented by Jonathan Melnick, argued that the Liberty Lounge is a small, specialist cocktail bar with a maximum capacity of 65 people, operating on a pre-booked, seated-only basis. They presented evidence from an independent investigator suggesting that customer departures were quiet and well-ordered. The applicant highlighted that the venue is almost invisible to the outside world, located beneath a discount suit shop. They also noted that the venue is at the bottom end of the community of impact area and that temporary event notices allowing later hours had not resulted in complaints. A key condition proposed by the applicant was that if the licence were transferred out of the current proprietor's name, the terminal hour would revert to the existing hours. This condition was agreed upon to address concerns from SPIRE, represented by Randall Field, chairman of SPIRE and War Panel Chair for Spitalfields in Banglatown. Field stated that while the area is a hot spot for issues, SPIRE would rather focus on poorly run organisations and supported the application with the proposed condition, believing it offered a good balance. Nicola Kadzo, an environmental health officer, also indicated agreement, noting the lack of complaints during previous late-night operations.

The committee discussed the condition regarding the transfer of the licence, with Jonathan Melnick clarifying that the intention was to ensure the extended hours were tied to the current proprietor rather than the premises itself, to avoid potential enforceability issues if the business were sold to a less responsible operator. Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living, sought confirmation that the variation would not lead to a stand-up drinking facility. The applicant confirmed there would be no change to the operational style.

The subcommittee deliberated in private, and a decision was to be communicated within five working days.

Broadcast Cafe Licence Variation

The committee also considered an application for a variation to the premises licence for the Broadcast Cafe, Unit 17, Block River at 455 Wick Lane. The proposed variation included adding off-sales for delivery and catering, amending a condition to permit the external area to be used until 10 pm (agreed with Environmental Health), and adding the screening of films on Mondays to Sundays from 12 pm to 11 pm. Other amendments included changes to conditions regarding substantial food availability and the sale of alcohol between 9 am and midday being auxiliary to a meal.

The applicant, Chloe Bailey Bailey, represented by Craig Bailey, explained that the Broadcast Cafe is a small operation on an industrial estate with no nearby residential properties. The variations were sought to help the business recover from the impact of COVID-19 and to reposition the business. The off-sales for delivery and catering were intended to complement existing food delivery services. The use of the external area was to be limited to 10 people and was situated far from residential areas. The applicant also sought more flexibility regarding the substantial food condition, allowing customers to purchase a drink without food, and proposed earlier alcohol sales to accommodate a thriving brunch operation. The addition of films was described as a community thing for local businesses and the wider community.

Representations were received from a local councillor and local residents against the application, with concerns raised by Jonathan Melnick (representing a local resident) and a company called JB Riney. Jonathan Melnick expressed disappointment that the resident objector had not visited the premises to see the reality of the operation, stating that the fears raised were groundless. The applicant confirmed that they use Deliveroo for deliveries and would adhere to standard age verification conditions. Chloe Bailey Bailey herself spoke about her passion for Caribbean food and her role in the local area, noting that her presence had helped deter nuisances and that she had previously assisted the police with CCTV.

The subcommittee deliberated in private, and a decision was to be communicated within five working days.