The Licensing (Hearing) Sub Committee of the City of London Council met on Wednesday 28 October 2026 to consider an application for a premises licence for the new London Museum in Smithfield. The committee heard representations from the applicant, objectors, and the Greater London Authority. The committee stated that a decision would be communicated in writing within five working days.

London Museum Premises Licence Application

The primary focus of the meeting was the application for a premises licence for the new London Museum, located at Smithfield, London, EC1A 9PS. The museum sought authorisation for the sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment, and late-night refreshment on a 24-hour basis, seven days a week.

The application was supported by the Greater London Authority (GLA), who highlighted the museum's potential to contribute significantly to London's cultural and economic landscape, create jobs, and support the Mayor's vision for a 24-hour city. The GLA noted that the proposed location in Smithfield is already a vibrant 24-hour district with good transport links and existing late-night venues.

However, a representation was made by a resident, Mr. Greg Callis, who, while supportive of the museum's opening and its general plans, raised concerns about potential public nuisance arising from late-night alcohol sales, particularly on weeknights. Mr. Callis proposed limitations on the frequency of events involving alcohol sales after midnight during the week and after 2 am on weekends. He suggested a cap of 25 events per year for up to 500 people and five events for over 500 people, with later alcohol sales.

The applicant, represented by Mr. Will Robinson and Ms. Aline Thomas, along with Mr. Nathan Lamb and Ms. Sharon Ayman from the London Museum, argued that imposing such limits would hinder their ability to programme a full cultural and commercial calendar and would create uncertainty for event planning. They stated that they could not commit to a specific number of late-night events as they did not yet know the operational demands. They emphasised their commitment to managing dispersal and public nuisance through bespoke risk assessments, a dispersal policy, and collaboration with responsible authorities, citing the example of the nearby nightclub Fabric, which also operates with a 24-hour licence.

The committee, chaired by Councillor John William Fletcher, heard detailed arguments from all parties. Councillor Tim McNally questioned the objector on the nature of the public nuisance concerns, while Councillor Stephanie Steeden expressed sympathy for the museum's aspirations but also acknowledged the validity of residents' concerns.

The committee deliberated on the application and stated that a decision would be communicated in writing within five working days. The exact conditions of any potential licence were not detailed in the transcript.