The Licensing Sub-Committee of Southwark Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 4 August 2026. The primary focus of the meeting will be a review of the premises licence for the Ship Aground Public House.

Ship Aground Public House Licence Review

The committee is scheduled to consider an application for the review of the premises licence for the Ship Aground Public House, located at 33 Wolseley Street, London SE1 2BP. This review has been initiated by the Metropolitan Police Service under the Licensing Act 2003. The grounds for the review stem from an incident on 8 July 2026, where officers from the Southwark Police Violent Focus Desk, executing a warrant under Section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, reportedly found a small quantity of suspected class A drugs and a firearm inside a safe on the premises. The application states that the premises are associated with serious crime and disorder.

The report pack indicates that an interim hearing was held on 10 July 2026. The Metropolitan Police Service, represented by PC Mark Lynch, has applied for the review, citing concerns related to the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety.

Representations have also been received from the council's own Licensing Unit, with Jayne Tear, Principal Licensing Officer, recommending the revocation of the premises licence. This recommendation is based on a lack of confidence in the current premises licence holder and designated premises supervisor, Mr Michael Jarman, to uphold the licensing objectives, particularly as he could not be contacted or located at the time of the incident.

Furthermore, a representation has been submitted on behalf of Ei Group Ltd, the freehold owner of the premises. Ei Group Ltd has commenced proceedings to terminate the tenancy and intends to recover possession of the premises. They have stated that they would not oppose any period of suspension of the licence while it is still held by Mr Jarman, nor would they oppose the removal of the designated premises supervisor.

The report pack also details the operating history of the Ship Aground Public House, including previous licensing inspections and a list of complaints received by the Licensing Unit. These complaints, dating back to August 2021, include allegations of drug dealing, selling non-brewery alcohol, rodent issues, and noise disturbances.

The sub-committee will consider the relevant sections of the Southwark Statement of Licensing Policy 2026-2031, the guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, and the National Licensing Policy Framework for the hospitality and leisure sectors. The sub-committee's role is quasi-judicial, meaning they must act impartially and base their decision solely on licensing law, guidance, and the council's statement of licensing policy. The potential actions available to the sub-committee include modifying licence conditions, excluding licensable activities, removing the designated premises supervisor, suspending the licence for up to three months, or revoking the licence.

The meeting is scheduled to be attended by Councillor Jane Salmon (Chair), Councillor Sunny Lambe, Councillor Margy Newens, Toyin Calfos, Esther Jones, Wesley McArthur, Charlotte Precious, Andrew Weir, PC Mark Lynch, Debra Allday, and Jayne Tear.