The Licensing Sub-Committee (4) of Westminster Council was scheduled to consider licensing applications for the venue Louche, located at 4 Greek Street, London, W1D 4DB. The meeting's agenda focused on an expedited licensing review and a shadow licence application for this establishment.

Licensing Applications for Determination

The primary focus of the meeting was the consideration of licensing matters concerning Louche, located at 4 Greek Street, London, W1D 4DB.

Expedited Licensing Review for Louche

The committee was scheduled to review the premises licence for Louche under an expedited procedure. This review was initiated by the Metropolitan Police Service due to concerns that the premises were associated with serious crime or serious disorder. The report pack detailed an incident on Saturday 4th May 2024, where a male was allegedly sexually assaulted and assaulted in the venue's toilets. The police report indicated that the suspect was not detained at the time, leading to further alleged offences. The police also noted a previous incident on Sunday 28th April 2024, involving a fight at the premises.

The report highlighted several alleged breaches of the premises licence conditions, including failure to record incidents in the logbook and non-adherence to conditions regarding the sale of alcohol when music and dance are provided. The police's application for a summary review argued that these issues demonstrated a failure to uphold the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder, posing a risk to the public.

The report outlined potential interim steps the Sub-Committee could consider, including:

• Modification of the conditions of the premises licence.
• Exclusion of the sale of alcohol from the licence.
• Removal of the designated premises supervisor.
• Suspension of the licence.

The report noted that due to the statutory timeframes for an interim hearing, the premises licence holder had not yet been able to submit their own representations.

Shadow Licence for Louche

In addition to the expedited review, the committee was also scheduled to consider a shadow licence application for Louche. The report indicated that this application was also subject to review under Section 53A(1) of the Licensing Act 2003, mirroring the concerns raised for the primary licence.

The report provided details of the existing premises licence for Louche, outlining its authorised licensable activities, including performance of dance, live and recorded music, late night refreshment, private entertainment, and the sale of alcohol. The licence permitted these activities until 02:00 on weekdays and Saturdays, and until 00:30 on Sundays, with opening hours extending later. The licence holder was listed as Mr Elliott Dennis Rogers, with Samocca Assets Limited as the registered holder of the shadow licence. The report also included a history of previous licence applications and variations for the premises.

The Licensing Sub-Committee was required to have regard to the City of Westminster's Statement of Licensing Policy¹ and guidance issued by the Secretary of State under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003².