The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to consider a review of the premises licence for Tap, located at 3 Wellington Parade, Blackfen Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA15 9NB. The meeting documents also include minutes from previous meetings held on 19 March, 24 March, and 20 April 2026.

Review of Tap Premises Licence

The primary item scheduled for discussion is a review of the premises licence for Tap, located at 3 Wellington Parade, Blackfen Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA15 9NB. This review has been initiated by the Licensing Authority as a Responsible Authority¹ and is being supported by the Police, also a Responsible Authority. The grounds for the review are the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

The report pack indicates that the application for review stems from an incident on 20 March 2026, where a serious assault occurred during an 18th birthday party. Police attending the scene reported significant intoxication among patrons, ongoing fighting, and ineffective management. Concerns were also raised about the premises' CCTV system not being operational at the time of the incident, which is a breach of the licence conditions. Further issues arose from subsequent complaints regarding alleged late-night poker games and drinking, with evidence from CCTV footage suggesting illegal gambling and drug use. The Licensing Authority's submission highlights a complete disregard of the Licensing Act, Gambling Act, the laws that govern illegal drug use, and the smoking legislation, leading to the recommendation for the licence to be revoked entirely. The Licence Holder, Tap Drinking Limited, has reportedly not responded to the review application.

The Sub-Committee will consider the evidence presented by the Licensing Authority and the Police, as well as the current premises licence details. The potential outcomes of such a review, as outlined in the Licensing Act 2003, include modifying licence conditions, excluding licensable activities, removing the Designated Premises Supervisor, suspending the licence, or revoking the licence entirely.