This meeting will include reports on licensing applications for two different businesses: the restaurant Glassbox, and the LGBTQ+ performance space The Divine. The documents suggest that both venues will face opposition from the police and local residents.

Glassbox, 18 Sidworth Street

Pittagoraslondon Fields Limited applied for a new premises license to sell alcohol and late night refreshment at Glassbox.

The application seeks permission for late night refreshment from 11pm to 2am Sunday to Wednesday, 11pm to 4am on Thursday, and 11pm to 6am on Friday and Saturday.

They also seek permission to sell alcohol on and off the premises from 11am to 11pm every day.

PC Amanda Griggs from the Metropolitan Police¹ objected to the application because the venue is in a highly residential area, and because the requested hours are far in excess of the Hackney Council² Statement of Licensing Policy 'Core Hours' for late night refreshment in that area.

The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement in Greater London, excluding the City of London. Hackney Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Hackney.

PC Griggs also noted that Police have some initial concerns about the applicants understanding of the Licensing Act 2003 as Late Night Refreshment is only required between the hours of 2300-0500hrs.

Finally, PC Griggs noted that the application does not provide sufficient measures to mitigate the impact of the hours requested and as such police would ask that a robust set of conditions are attached to any licence granted.

David Tuitt, the Business Regulation Team Leader from the Hackney Council Licensing Authority also submitted a representation objecting to the application on the grounds of public nuisance.

He noted that The premises appears to be located directly opposite residential properties, that The proposed hours are excessive, and that the application would undermine the licensing objective to prevent public nuisance.

A local resident also submitted a representation on behalf of themselves and their neighbours.

The representation notes that, on 8 April 2020, Hackney Council granted planning permission to convert the premises from A1 (retail) to A3 (restaurant and cafe) use. The planning permission states:

The use hereby permitted may only be carried out between 09.00 - 22.00 hours on any day.

The representation goes on to say:

Since this unit began operation, the area has now become even more residential, (with the addition of the Fieldsview development on the corner of Sidworth Street). If those hours were deemed to make sense in 2020 then they should definitely not be extended now.

The resident also stated that:

This address is on the ground floor over the street from the building where we live, and is opposite our bedroom. and Sidworth Street is a very narrow L shaped street with medium/high rise residential apartments at either side, any sound bounces around this space and affects all residents with rooms overlooking the street, and since this unit is basically at the corner of the L; very much a worse case scenario re potential problems re any noise coming from this unit, or it's customers.

The resident then recounts their experiences with the previous tenant:

Previously this unit was occupied by an extremely similar business to the proposed new tenants (it was a Greek kebab shop), and even without an alcohol licence, and even with '10 pm' closing (although they often stayed open later than this), we were regularly disturbed (and our child awoken) by customers shouting in the street. Basically: even with the existing conditions it was causing a lot of problems.

The resident also objects to the application on the grounds that it would undermine the licensing objectives to prevent crime and disorder and to protect children from harm.

Their concerns about crime and disorder related to drug dealing, theft and anti-social behaviour, and their concerns about harm to children related to noise and large numbers of patrons hanging around the street at an all night food outlet and under the influence of alcohol and smoking.

A second resident, writing from a different property on Mentmore Terrace, also submitted a representation.

Their representation also objects to the application on the grounds of crime and disorder, public nuisance, and protection of children from harm. It notes that the residents have regular issues with criminals gaining access to our building, stealing bikes and entering the flats.

It also notes that they believe the proposed late hours would create noise and disturbance, and that the premises' proximity to the residential flats means that sound to not only be heard on the ground and first floors but to echo and bounce around to be heard on all the floors of the building.

Finally, they note that, in a recent decision on a different premises in the area, the committee:

restricted to Sun-Thu up to 22:30 and Fr-Sat up to 23:00, and has the following condition: From 20:00 All doors and windows on the premises shall be kept closed, other than for access and egress to prevent noise breakouts and disturbance to local residents above and around the premises and in the area.

The resident therefore request that the applicant have the same restrictions, and given that they are surrounded by residential flats that their opening hours remain at 10pm as at present.

The Divine, 33-35 Stoke Newington Road

Bold Hearts Limited applied to vary a premises license for their LGBTQ+ performance venue The Divine, formerly The Glory, on Kingsland Road.

The application seeks permission to extend the existing licensed hours to:

• Sunday to Wednesday 11am to 2am
• Thursday to Saturday 11am to 4am

The application also seeks permission to extend the hours for the sale of alcohol to:

• Sunday to Wednesday 11am to 1.30am
• Thursday to Saturday 11am to 3.30am

Finally, the application seeks permission to add additional licensable activities to the license:

To include live performance, plays, music, film, cabaret, dance and DJs with amplified music as licensable late-night activities as above.

PC Amanda Griggs from the Metropolitan Police submitted a representation objecting to the application on the grounds that it would undermine the licensing objectives to prevent crime and disorder and to prevent public nuisance.

Her representation noted that the venue is in the Dalston area, which has a mix of licensed premises, retail outlets and other commercial spaces, as well as some residential properties nearby.

She also noted that:

This application seeks the sale of alcohol, as well as other licensable activity until 0130hrs Sunday – Wednesday and until 0330hrs Thursday – Saturday, with the venue closing 30 minutes later. These hours are in excess of the core hours as proposed in LP3 of the Councils Licensing Policy.

She also asked why off sales are required? and proposed reduced hours on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

David Tuitt, the Business Regulation Team Leader from the Hackney Council Licensing Authority also submitted a representation objecting to the application on the grounds of public nuisance.

He noted that The premises is located very close to residential properties. and The proposed hours could therefore have a negative impact on the residents in those properties, therefore undermining the prevention of public nuisance objectives.

He also noted that:

The applicants attention is drawn to LP3 (Core Hours) contained within the Council’s Licensing Policy which states:...

He did, however, note that:

it is noted that the existing hours are already well in excess of these hours. It is also noted that the hours authorised by licence were longer at weekends before an application received in 2019 sought to reduce them.

Finally, a local resident submitted a representation objecting to the application on multiple grounds, including what they said was the Licensing Authority's:

bias in favour of applicants which results in procedural impropriety at licensing meetings and a failure to provide a fair hearing for reasonable representations that take exception to the undermining of the licensing objectives.

They went on to say:

It is likely that the responsible authorities and members of the licensing committee will act in a way which avoids properly scrutinising this application and is unreasonably favourable to the applicant whilst denying the real material inequalities of residents affected by the activity of the proposed operation of this premises including crime, nuisance and the cumulative impact.

and, finally:

Whilst I am sympathetic to the patrons of this premises, the applicant seeks unqualified privilege as demonstrated in the vast extent of this variation application if not refused. I note the applicant has prioritised entertainment over offering disabled access.