The Licensing Sub-Committee of Kingston upon Thames Council met on Tuesday 26 May 2026 to consider two applications for new premises licences. The committee granted a licence for Unilever's Sunlight House premises, authorising the sale of alcohol from 8am to 11pm daily, with specific conditions regarding who alcohol could be supplied to. The committee also granted a new premises licence for Warren House Hotel, authorising regulated entertainment and the sale of alcohol until midnight daily, with a number of additional conditions imposed to address concerns raised by local residents.

Application for a New Premises Licence: Unilever, Sunlight House, 22 Eden Street, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1BY

The committee granted a new premises licence for Unilever's Sunlight House premises in Kingston upon Thames. The licence authorises the sale of alcohol for both on and off-premises consumption between 8am and 11pm, Monday to Sunday. Crucially, alcohol can only be supplied to directors, partners, officers, and employees of Unilever UK and their affiliated companies, along with their bona fide guests, or to persons attending a private or organised function by prior invitation. The licence also includes conditions regarding staff training, age verification under the Challenge 25 policy, and a prohibition on advertising licensed facilities outside the premises. Off-sales are permitted only for consumption within other non-licensed areas of the building or at other Unilever corporate premises.

The decision to grant the licence was made after considering the application, the proposed conditions, and a single representation from a local resident. The resident's concerns primarily related to potential public nuisance arising from increased traffic, congestion around bus stops, and noise during late evening periods. The applicant's representative argued that the proposed use was ancillary to the corporate and training functions of the building and that existing security measures and the limited nature of the alcohol supply would mitigate any potential issues. The committee found that the proposed conditions adequately addressed the concerns raised and promoted the licensing objectives.

Application for a New Premises Licence: Warren House, Warren Road, Kingston Upon Thames, KT2 7HY

The committee granted a new premises licence for Warren House Hotel in Kingston upon Thames, authorising regulated entertainment and the sale of alcohol until midnight daily. The licence permits regulated entertainment, including films, indoor sporting events, live and recorded music, and dance performances, from 10am to midnight Monday to Saturday, and from 12pm to midnight on Sundays. Late-night refreshment is permitted daily from 11pm to midnight. Alcohol can be sold for on-premises consumption only, with the same hours as regulated entertainment, and can be supplied at any time to bona fide residents and overnight guests of the hotel.

This decision followed a hearing where numerous representations were received from local residents and the Malden & Coombe Residents' Association. Concerns were primarily focused on the potential for public nuisance, crime and disorder, and public safety, particularly relating to noise from music and patrons, traffic, parking, and anti-social behaviour. Residents highlighted existing planning conditions imposed in 2018 that restricted music and the number of functions, and expressed fears that the new licence would undermine these protections and alter the character of the quiet residential area.

The applicant's representatives argued that the application was primarily to update the site plan to include a newly constructed Orangery and did not seek to extend existing hours or fundamentally change the nature of the operation, as the hotel already held a licence until midnight. They also highlighted the lack of formal complaints in the past year and the existing planning conditions that already restricted amplified music outside and on Sundays.

In making their decision, the committee considered the representations and legal advice, noting that planning matters were outside their remit. They acknowledged that the proposed hours were within the guideline hours set out in the council's licensing policy. While granting the licence, the committee imposed several additional conditions beyond those proposed by the applicant. These included:

• Hours: Regulated entertainment and alcohol sales until midnight daily, with late-night refreshment from 11pm to midnight. Alcohol can be supplied to residents and overnight guests at any time.
• Prevention of Crime and Disorder: Maintenance of an incident register, staff training on responsible alcohol sales and refusal, and cooperation with police.
• Prevention of Public Nuisance: Staff to remind customers to be quiet when leaving, monitoring of noise levels, and regulated entertainment to be confined to internal areas only.
• Protection of Children from Harm: Supervision of children by responsible adults, a Challenge 25 policy for age verification, and staff training on preventing underage sales and emergency procedures.
• Additional Conditions: Installation and maintenance of a comprehensive CCTV system covering entrances, exits, and the immediate external area, with recordings stored for 31 days and available to police on request. Patio or other outside areas to be closed to customers by 10pm. Patrons drinking or smoking outside to be supervised to prevent nuisance. No music to be played outside the premises. All windows and external doors to be kept closed after 10pm or during regulated entertainment, except for immediate access and egress. A Dispersal Policy to be supplied to the Licensing Authority addressing taxis, buses, vehicles, external security, access and grounds, litter patrols, external lighting, and smokers with drinks.

The committee also recommended that the hotel engage with residents through quarterly meetings to address issues and find resolutions.