The Licensing Sub Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Thursday, 3 September 2026, to consider three applications for premises licences. The committee granted two applications in part and refused one outright, imposing various conditions to promote the licensing objectives.

Star of the East, 805A Commercial Road, London, E14 7HG

The Sub-Committee considered an application to vary the premises licence for the Star of the East to extend permitted hours for alcohol sales, late-night refreshment, and regulated entertainment. The application sought to extend hours until 1 am from Monday to Thursday and 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Numerous representations were received from local residents and the Licensing Authority, primarily objecting on the grounds of preventing public nuisance and crime and disorder. Concerns were raised about noise transmission due to the building's historic construction, the potential for increased anti-social behaviour in an already challenging area, and the impact on residents, including an Olympic athlete in training. The applicant, Jithendranath Thunoli, argued that the extension was needed for business viability and proposed conditions to mitigate noise.

After deliberation, the Sub-Committee decided to grant the application in part. The permitted hours for the sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment were amended to midnight from Monday to Thursday and 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays. A 30-minute drinking-up time was also imposed. Several conditions were attached to the licence, including keeping external doors and windows closed after 9 pm, prohibiting glass containers in external seating areas, and ensuring no noise or vibration causes public nuisance.

Much A Brew About Nothing, 8 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ

An application for a new premises licence for Much A Brew About Nothing, described as a community-focused café and social enterprise, was considered. The application sought authorisation for the sale of alcohol (on-sales only) from 4 pm to 10 pm Monday to Friday, 12 pm to 10 pm on Saturdays, and 12 pm to 8 pm on Sundays.

One objection was received from a local resident, Mr. Patrick Spottiswoode, who raised concerns about the premises' location within the Brick Lane Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) and potential inconsistencies in the application regarding its operation as a bar versus a café. He also worried about increased street congestion and potential for intermingling with patrons from a nearby busy pub. The applicant, Christina Roberts, director of TCW Trading Ltd, emphasised that alcohol sales would be ancillary to the café's primary use and that the venue was not intended to be alcohol-led. Conditions were agreed with the police and Environmental Health.

The Sub-Committee granted the application with conditions. The permitted hours for alcohol sales were set as 4 pm to 10 pm Monday to Friday, 12 pm to 10 pm on Saturdays, and 12 pm to 8 pm on Sundays. The premises' opening hours were set from 8 am to 10 pm Monday to Friday, 10 am to 10 pm on Saturdays, and 10 am to 8 pm on Sundays. Crucially, conditions were imposed stating the premises would operate as a community-focused café and social enterprise, alcohol would only be sold ancillary to food or pre-booked events, there would be no vertical drinking, and the premises would not operate as a bar. A condition was also added prohibiting patrons from taking open drinks outside the premises.

CTRL ALT Elite London Ltd, 116 Jubilee Street, London E1 3EB

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a new premises licence for CTRL ALT Elite, a supervised computer gaming lounge in the basement of 116 Jubilee Street. The application sought authorisation for the provision of late-night refreshment indoors from 11 pm to 1 am seven days a week.

Representations were received from local residents primarily concerned with the prevention of public nuisance. Key issues raised included noise transmission due to the building's structure, potential disturbance from patrons arriving and leaving late at night, and the lack of toilet facilities within the basement premises. The applicant's agent, Mifta Ahmed, clarified that toilet facilities were available on the ground floor and that the lounge had been operating for over a year without complaints. Conditions were offered in the operating schedule and agreed with responsible authorities.

The Sub-Committee decided to grant the application in part, imposing significant restrictions on the hours. The provision of late-night refreshment was permitted only from 11 pm to 11:30 pm Monday to Thursday, and 11 pm to 12 am (midnight) on Fridays and Saturdays. The premises' opening hours were set from 8 am to 11:30 pm Monday to Thursday, 10 am to 12 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 10 am to 8 pm on Sundays. Conditions included prohibiting music or amplified sound causing public nuisance, keeping external doors and windows closed after 9 pm, and ensuring noise or vibration is not audible at neighbouring premises. A condition was also imposed that no person under 18 is on the premises after 11 pm, and those aged 16-17 must be accompanied by a responsible adult after 10 pm.

Extension of Decision Deadlines

The Sub-Committee noted that decision deadlines for several applications were extended to 30 November 2026. These included applications for Vagabond, Shah's Halal Food, Vittoria Wharf Studio, McDonalds, 6 Horner Square, Morleys, The Lockdown Room, and Idle Moments.