The Licensing Sub-Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Tuesday 18 July 2023 to consider a temporary event notice for Boat Live and a new premises licence application for SNEC and That. The committee decided to issue a counter-notice for the temporary event notice for Boat Live, effectively rejecting the application. For SNEC and That, the committee reserved its decision, indicating that a written confirmation would follow within five working days.

Temporary Event Notice for Boat Live Rejected

The committee considered a temporary event notice (TEN) for Boat Live, located at 90 White Post Lane, Hackney Wick, London E9 5EN, which sought permission for the sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment for up to 100 people. The application was for a soft launch weekend from Thursday 20 July to Sunday 23 July.

Representations were made by PC Mark Perry of the Metropolitan Police and Nicola Katso from Environmental Protection, both objecting to the TEN on the grounds of preventing crime and disorder and public nuisance. Their primary concerns centred on the venue's proximity to residential properties, with the nearest block being approximately 10 metres away. They highlighted potential noise leakage from the boat, even with some soundproofing measures, and expressed worries about noise generated by patrons congregating outside the venue, particularly after consuming alcohol. PC Perry noted that the boat's capacity was around 50-60 people, and questioned what the additional 60-70 people, for whom the TEN was advertised, would do outside. Both also referenced a history of noise complaints and issues at previous events run by the applicant in the vicinity.

Mr. Reese Rose, representing Boat Live, argued that he had been brought on board to improve and reduce noise and the risk of crime and disorder, citing his 20 years of experience in running over 5,000 events. He stated that the TEN capacity was set at 100 to allow for testing, and that the hours had been reduced to align with licensing policies. He also mentioned that an acoustic report was being prepared and would be available soon. Mr. Rose acknowledged the concerns about the location and stated that signs would be placed to encourage patrons to respect neighbours.

After deliberation, the subcommittee decided to issue a counter-notice, rejecting the TEN. The decision was based on concerns that adequate measures to prevent noise breakouts, both from music and from patrons, had not been sufficiently demonstrated. The subcommittee was also not satisfied that there were adequate measures in place to address public safety, noting the absence of a security plan and dispersal plan. They also took into account the police's report of a poor track record in relation to crime and disorder and public nuisance at past events. The subcommittee noted that while TENs are a light-touch regime, there had been a considerable number of similar TEN applications for these premises, all attracting objections, and suggested better dialogue between parties could help narrow issues.

New Premises Licence for SNEC and That Deferred

The committee also considered an application for a new premises licence for SNEC and That, located at 381 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 0AN, described as a grocery store specialising in American sweets and alcohol. The applicant, Mr. Abraham El-Barja, sought permission for the sale of alcohol for off-sales from Monday to Sunday, 10am to 11pm, with the premises open to the public during the same hours.

Mr. Mosh Ali from the Licensing Authority presented an objection, highlighting that the premises is located within a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ)¹. He stated that the applicant had not demonstrated sufficient knowledge of the CIZ or provided evidence of how they would meet any potential exemptions. Concerns were raised about the lack of detail in the submitted plans regarding fire safety equipment and the premises' capacity. Mr. Ali argued that adding another alcohol-selling premises within the CIZ would exacerbate existing antisocial issues. Conditions had been agreed with the police and environmental protection, including CCTV, staff presence, an incident log, signs for patrons to leave quietly, and the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) being available on-site.

Mr. El-Barja explained that the premises had held a licence for over 40 years prior to their takeover and that there had been no noise complaints. He emphasised that the primary focus of the store is American candy and snacks, with alcohol sales being a secondary revenue stream driven by customer requests. He stated that staff would be trained to ID all customers and that the alcohol would be sold from a small, dedicated section. Mr. El-Barja, who has a personal licence, confirmed he had grown up in the area and felt a strong connection to the community, vowing to uphold licensing objectives and respect neighbours. He admitted he had no prior experience selling alcohol within a CIZ and had not sought specific legal advice before applying, but was willing to implement agreed conditions and even consider a security presence if necessary.

The subcommittee heard concluding remarks from both parties. Mr. Ali reiterated that the Licensing Authority believed the premises would add to the cumulative impact of the CIZ, and that the applicant had not demonstrated how they would avoid contributing to existing problems. Mr. El-Barja appealed for consideration as a small family business with deep community ties, stressing that alcohol sales would be a small part of their offering.

The subcommittee indicated that they would retire to a private session to make their decision, and a written confirmation would be sent within five working days.