Licensing Panel D of Camden Council met on Thursday 6 August 2026 to consider the renewal of a sex establishment licence for Blue Rose, located at 4A Kentish Town Road, London NW1 9NX. The panel granted the renewal of the licence for one year, subject to standard conditions and increased monitoring by licensing officers and the police.

Blue Rose, 4A Kentish Town Road, London NW1 9NX

The Licensing Panel D considered an application to renew the sex establishment licence for Blue Rose, a sex shop located at 4A Kentish Town Road, London NW1 9NX. The licence was due to expire on 23 May 2026.

The application was called into question by a representation from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and an objection from a local resident, Dan Whitaker. The MPS raised concerns about the sale of illegal items, specifically Sildenafil tablets and poppers, which they stated were being sold without the necessary prescriptions or authorisation. PC Christopher Malone, the licensing officer representing the MPS, detailed two visits to the premises where these items were found. He also highlighted that the individuals listed on the licence were not present during these visits, which was a breach of licence conditions. The MPS recommended the refusal of the licence renewal due to concerns regarding crime and disorder, and public safety.

Dan Whitaker, a local resident, objected to the renewal, citing concerns about the premises' signage being offensive and inappropriate for an area with many school-age children and a rising concern for sexual violence against women and girls. He also noted that the area's demographic had shifted towards a younger population and that the presence of a physical sex shop was less necessary due to the prevalence of online e-commerce. However, the panel noted that Mr Whitaker's objection was received after the statutory deadline for representations had passed and therefore could not be formally considered.

The applicant's legal representative, Mr Richard Barca, confirmed that there were no amendments to the application. He objected to the additional information provided by the Police, citing concerns about a breach of Section 9 of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. He also stated that the applicant, 21st Century Retail Ltd, was a limited company and therefore information about an individual was not directly relevant.

The panel deliberated on the application, including a private session to receive legal advice. They determined that the applicant was suitable to hold the licence and acknowledged that the applicant had taken steps to address concerns. The panel decided to grant the renewal of the licence for one year, until 22 May 2027, with the standard conditions in place. To address the concerns raised by the Police, the panel instructed licensing officers to conduct regular and thorough additional spot-checks and inspections of the premises throughout the year. The Police were also requested to carry out more regular inspections.

The licence permits the premises to operate as a sex shop from Monday to Sunday, between 10:00 and 23:00.

The minutes of the previous meetings held on 22 January 2026 and 5 March 2026 were approved. Councillor Jonathan Simpson MBE was elected as the Chair of Licensing Panel D for the 2026/2027 municipal year. Councillor Simpson declared for transparency that he was a board member of Camden Town Unlimited Business Improvement District (BID), which covered the area where the premises was located, but stated this did not constitute a prejudicial interest.