The Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee of Waltham Forest Council was scheduled to consider an application to vary a premises licence for the Orient Lounge. The meeting's agenda also included procedural matters related to the sub-committee's operations.

Variation of Premises Licence: Orient Lounge

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application to vary the premises licence for the Orient Lounge, located at 389 High Road, Leyton, E10 5NA. The application sought to make several changes to the existing licence, which was granted on 19 October 2023.

The proposed variations included:

• Extended Hours for Licensable Activities: The applicant requested to extend the hours for the sale of alcohol, recorded music, and the general opening hours of the premises. The proposed new hours are Sunday to Thursday from 07:00 to 00:00, and Friday to Saturday from 07:00 to 02:00. This represents an extension from the current daily hours of 07:00 to 23:00 for recorded music and opening, and 11:00 to 22:45 for alcohol sales.
• Provision of Late Night Refreshment: The application also sought to introduce late night refreshment hours, from Sunday to Thursday between 23:00 and 00:00, and Friday to Saturday between 23:00 and 02:00.
• Removal of a Condition: A significant part of the application was the request to remove a condition that currently restricts the use of the rear enclosed area. The existing condition states that this area can only be open to the public between 07:00 and 21:30 on Sundays to Thursdays, and 07:00 to 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The applicant wished to remove this time restriction for the rear area.

The report pack indicated that nine representations were received concerning this application. Six of these came from other persons (residents), and three were from responsible authorities, including the police, the planning department, and the licensing team. The grounds for these representations were based on the licensing objectives of preventing public nuisance, ensuring public safety, and preventing crime and disorder.

The report outlined the procedure for hearings of the Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee, which involves the presentation of the report by the licensing officer, followed by submissions from the applicant, responsible authorities, and other parties. The sub-committee would then retire to make a decision.

The report also detailed the mandatory conditions applicable to all premises licences under the Licensing Act 2003, covering areas such as the supply of alcohol, age verification, permitted pricing, and irresponsible drinks promotions. It also referenced the council's Statement of Licensing Policy, which guides decisions by promoting the four licensing objectives and considering factors such as the premises' location, transport links, proposed activities, and potential impact on local residents. The report also noted the council's duty under the Equalities Act 2010 to consider the impact of its decisions on individuals with protected characteristics.

The report pack included appendices containing the application form, the existing premises licence, newspaper notices, representations from other persons, representations from responsible authorities, and a map of the premises' location.

The sub-committee was asked to consider the application and decide whether to grant it in full, grant it in part, or refuse it. The report highlighted that decisions would be made with due regard to the representations received and the measures proposed by the applicant to promote the licensing objectives.