The Licensing Sub-Committee of Enfield Council met on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, to consider a new premises licence application for an Adult Gaming Centre. The primary focus of the meeting was the application for Palace Amusement, located at 101-109 Green Lanes, London, N13 4SP.

Palace Amusement, 101-109 Green Lanes, London, N13 4SP – New Premises Licence Application – Adult Gaming Centre (AGC)

The main item scheduled for discussion was a new application for an Adult Gaming Centre (AGC) premises licence for Palace Amusement, located at 101-109 Green Lanes, London, N13 4SP. The applicant, East Kent Leasing Limited, sought to operate an AGC offering Category B3, Category C, and Category D gaming machines.

The report pack detailed the licensing history of the premises, noting that it had not previously held a Gambling Act 2005 premises licence. It also outlined the applicant's existing operations, including another Palace Amusements venue in Palmers Green and one in Enfield Lock, as well as the applicant's national operating licence and their lack of recorded regulatory enforcement action.

The application was advertised in accordance with the Gambling Act 2005 regulations. A significant number of representations were received from Other Persons, primarily local residents and businesses, who objected to the application. The principal concerns raised by objectors included:

• Preventing Gambling from being a Source of Crime or Disorder: Concerns were raised about potential increases in loitering, street drinking, nuisance behaviour, drug-related activity, and criminal exploitation, particularly in relation to late-night operation.
• Protecting Children and Vulnerable Persons: Objectors highlighted the proximity of the premises to local primary schools, nurseries, bus stops used by school children, and accommodation for young adult care leavers and community organisations supporting vulnerable individuals. Concerns were expressed about the potential normalisation of gambling and gambling-related harm.
• Concentration of Gambling Premises: Many objectors stated that there was already a significant number of gambling premises within a 1.5-mile radius of the application site and expressed concern about a further concentration of such facilities.
• Gambling-Related Harm and Public Health: Representations referred to broader concerns about gambling addiction, financial hardship, mental health impacts, and wider social consequences.

The report noted that the Metropolitan Police and the Licensing Authority had initially submitted representations due to concerns about the adequacy of the Local Area Risk Assessment and other operational matters. However, following discussions and the submission of revised documentation and agreed licence conditions by the applicant, both representations were withdrawn.

The applicant had agreed to a number of conditions, detailed in Annex 4 of the report pack, covering aspects such as CCTV, Challenge 25 procedures, third-party age verification testing, staff training, incident recording, crime prevention measures, minimum staffing requirements, and measures to safeguard vulnerable persons.

The report also referenced relevant legislation, including the Gambling Act 2005, Gambling Commission guidance, and Enfield Council's Statement of Principles 2025-2028. It highlighted the three licensing objectives: preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder; ensuring gambling is conducted fairly and openly; and protecting children and other vulnerable persons. The report also discussed the regulatory framework for Adult Gaming Centres, including mandatory requirements and the potential for premises-specific conditions.

The report noted that the premises were not situated within one of the Council's designated Gambling Vulnerability Areas, but members were still advised to consider the location and surrounding environment. The case law of Royal Amusements v Sheffield City Council (2024) was also mentioned as a material consideration regarding the interpretation of gambling harms and vulnerable persons.

The officer's comments summarised that while the Police and Licensing Authority representations were withdrawn, a substantial number of objections from local residents and businesses remained. The agreed conditions were intended to mitigate risks, but members were still required to consider the location and surrounding environment.

The Sub-Committee was presented with the options to grant the application as applied for, grant it subject to conditions, or reject the application, with reasons to be given for any decision.

The meeting also included standard agenda items such as Welcome and Apologies, and Declarations of Interest. A Part 2 agenda item for the exclusion of the press and public was noted as not being necessary.