The Licensing Sub-Committee (3) of Westminster Council was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Basta London. The committee was also due to address any changes in membership and receive declarations of interest.

Basta London Premises Licence Application

The primary item scheduled for discussion was a new premises licence application for Basta London, located at 12 North Row, London, W1K 7DF. The application sought permission for late-night refreshment, with proposed operating hours extending to 1:30 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 1:30 am for the outdoor terrace on those days. The premises is described as a high-quality restaurant intended for breakfast, lunch, and dinner service, with no alcohol sales proposed.

The application received representations from the Metropolitan Police Service and Environmental Health, both raising concerns about the proposed hours exceeding Westminster's core hours policy for restaurants and potentially leading to public nuisance and safety issues.

Numerous objections were also submitted by local residents and the Residents' Society of Mayfair and St James's. Key concerns raised included:

• Public Nuisance: Residents expressed worries about increased noise from customers, particularly from the outdoor terrace late at night, and from vehicles, including the revving of engines by owners of high-performance cars.
• Public Safety: Concerns were noted regarding potential anti-social behaviour associated with late-night operations.
• Parking Issues: Residents reported that customers frequently occupied residential parking spaces late at night.
• Impact on Residential Amenity: Objectors highlighted that the area is predominantly residential, and late hours would disturb the peace and well-being of residents, including those with young children.

Many objectors suggested a compromise, proposing that the outdoor terrace should close by 11:00 pm and the premises by midnight, aligning with hours at comparable restaurants in the area.

The report pack also detailed the City of Westminster's Statement of Licensing Policy, including policies on core hours (HRS1) and restaurants (RTN1), which the committee was required to consider. The policy outlines criteria for granting licences, with particular attention to the impact on crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm, especially in proximity to residential accommodation. The application was also considered in light of the Equality Act 2010, requiring due regard for the public sector equality duty.

The applicant, Basta London Limited, submitted a comprehensive operating schedule and several management policies, including a Terrace Management Policy, Dispersal Policy, and Waste Management Policy, outlining measures to mitigate potential nuisances and promote licensing objectives. These policies detailed plans for CCTV monitoring, incident logging, staff training, noise control, waste management, and customer dispersal, with specific conditions for the operation of the external terrace area, including reduced capacity and earlier closure times after 11:00 pm.

The committee was also scheduled to consider any changes to its membership and receive declarations of interest from members and officers.