This Licensing Panel B meeting was scheduled to consider three applications for new or varied licences. The most significant of the applications was for a new licence for Sainsbury’s supermarket in Camden Town. There was also an application to vary the licence of the Papa John’s takeaway on West End Lane. The final application was for a new licence for Mason & Fifth, a building providing serviced apartments in Primrose Hill.

Sainsbury's 6-12 Parkway London NW1 7AA

This was an application for a new licence to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises from 8am to 11pm, Monday to Saturday and 10am to 10:30pm on Sunday.

This site is located in the Camden Town Cumulative Impact Policy Area (CIP). CIPs are geographic areas where evidence suggests that the number, type and density of licensed premises in the area is having a negative cumulative impact on one or more of the four licensing objectives. The Camden Town CIP was introduced in 2006, and its aim is to ensure that the character of Camden Town is maintained. The policy contains a presumption to refuse new applications for premises licences within its boundary unless an applicant can demonstrate that their proposal will not add to the cumulative impact¹. The Council consulted on an updated version of the Licensing Policy in 2024, and during that consultation they said that the aim of this policy is to help manage the night time economy and ensure that the unique character of Camden Town is retained for residents and visitors. This is an explanation of what the Cumulative Impact Policy is, and how it applies to this application.

The report on this application states that the premises is not in breach of the Council's framework hours policy. This policy requires that applications for licences in Camden that propose licensable activities outside of the framework hours must provide evidence to demonstrate how they would promote the licensing objectives. The policy states that the hours set out in the Framework Hours Policy are not intended to prevent the grant of licences for premises proposing to operate outside these hours, but to ensure that such applications are subject to greater scrutiny.

The Licensing Authority, responsible for administration of the Licensing Act 2003, objected to the application on the grounds that it is located within the Camden Town CIP. They provided no evidence to suggest that the application would add to the cumulative impact.

Two local Councillors, Councillor Patricia Callaghan and Councillor Richard Cotton, objected to the application on the grounds of the potential for crime and disorder. They said that the area already suffers from crime and disorder, particularly in the evening and night time. Councillor Patricia Callaghan said that “the premises is very close to Arlington House, where we have residents who abuse alcohol and this site could be a focal point for them”.

Five local residents objected to the application, citing concerns about the potential for crime and disorder and public nuisance. Stephanie Foster said “the area has ‘no alcohol zones’ for consumption of alcohol and if late night sales are on offer then late night on the streets drinking and socialising, and general antisocial behaviour will increase”. Thomas Brooks argued that “Camden already has numerous establishments selling alcohol” and that “24 hour opening and alcohol sales over the extended period in any 24 hours will only serve as a magnet for people seeking to consume alcohol compounding the endemic anti-social behaviour in the area”.

The application included numerous conditions consistent with the operating schedule, including that CCTV would be installed and maintained, an incident log would be kept, a Challenge 25 policy would be in place, and that staff would be trained in the Licensing Act 2003.

The applicant agreed to an additional condition with the Metropolitan Police, that a minimum of one Security Industry Authority (SIA)² door supervisor would be on duty at all times during the hours of licensable activity.

Mason & Fifth 5-8 St Mark's Square London NW1 7TN

This was an application for a new licence to sell alcohol for consumption on and off the premises from 12pm to 11pm, Monday to Sunday.

This site is not located in a Cumulative Impact Policy Area.

Seven local residents objected to this application on the grounds of potential public nuisance. They argued that the site is a predominantly residential area, and a licence to sell alcohol until 11pm would be unacceptable. Hilary Muggridge, who lives on Princess Road, said that to have another potential source of late night drinking practically outside my bedroom window is completely unacceptable! There is a so-called paved 'garden', which I can see pretty close-to from my flat, which runs right along the back of the first several houses in Princess Road, plus a room at the end which I gather houses a yoga studio and running club. Why can't it stay this way instead of the proposal for an alcohol licence which as we all know would be a magnet for late night drinkers, along with all the tables and chairs which run the whole length of what used to be Vernon House's back garden?. Lorna Fowler, who lives on Princess Road, said My home adjoins Vernon House. We have already expected noise even late at night and I fear I will no longer be able to enjoy my own house without noise if alcohol is introduced. Given the largely changing people using this hostel:hotel it could even be booked by groups for parties, as happens on Airbnb, especially since it has a large garden room with bathroom facilities, an extra weatherproof room for a party. The garden is fitted with chairs and tables which would encourage drinks to be taken outside.

The applicant submitted a revised operating schedule in response to the objections. The revised operating schedule states that the garden would be vacated by 8pm each night, and that the supply of alcohol would be restricted to residents of the building. Events where alcohol is supplied would be limited to a maximum of six per calendar year, and outside of these events, the supply of alcohol would be restricted to Friday nights between 5pm and 9pm. The applicant also agreed to a number of other conditions, including that no alcohol would be consumed outside the front of the property, and that no bar servery would be constructed or used.

Papa John's Pizza 177 West End Lane London NW6 2LH

This was an application to vary an existing licence to extend the hours during which late night refreshment could be provided. The existing licence allows for the provision of late night refreshment from 11pm to midnight every day. This application is to extend these hours to 11pm to 5am every day.

This site is not in a Cumulative Impact Policy Area. The applicant said that the proposed variation to the licence will allow the premises to meet the growing demand for late night food delivery in the area.

The Licensing Authority objected to the application on the grounds that the application proposed licensable activity outside the Council's framework hours policy.

The Environmental Health officer objected to the application on the grounds of potential public nuisance. They recommended that all deliveries are to be made to a verified address only and that no deliveries are to be made to an open space. They also raised concerns about noise from motorbikes and mopeds. They said that in general, motorised vehicle movements and parking are concerns for local residents across the Borough, with the growing trend of food delivery services. Namely noisy scooters, obstruction of footpaths from illegal parking, and riders behaviour outside premises.

The Planning Enforcement officer objected to the application because the proposed hours are outside of those permitted by the existing planning permission for the site. They attached a copy of the planning decision from 1983 which shows that the site is only permitted to operate between 9am and 11pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 10:30pm on Sunday. The applicant has previously applied to vary the planning permission to extend these hours, but was refused by both the Council and the Planning Inspectorate.

Two local residents objected to the application on the grounds of crime and disorder and public nuisance. James Tomlinson, who lives on Sherriff Road, argued that extending the operating hours of Papa John's to nearly 24 hours would likely draw more people to the area during late night hours, increasing the risk of disturbances, noise, crime and potentially unsafe situations for residents. He also raised concerns about litter, particularly from discarded pizza boxes, saying the situation is so severe that children walking to school in the morning often have to dodge these boxes and other waste. Extended hours will only exacerbate this problem, further impacting the cleanliness and safety of our neighbourhood. Malwina Zagawa, who lives on West End Lane, objected to the application on similar grounds, arguing that having this delivery business until 5am will definitely cause nuisance, noise and anti-social behaviour from a lot of drunk young people who will be able to get food at any time of the night.

The applicant agreed with the Metropolitan Police to reduce the terminal hour from 5am to 3am. No other conditions were offered in response to the objections.