The Licensing Sub-Committee (1) of Westminster Council met on Thursday 9 May 2024 to consider three new premises licence applications. Decisions were made on all three applications, with licences granted subject to various conditions.

Basement and Ground Floor, 49 Bedford Street, WC2E 9HA

The committee granted a new premises licence for the basement and ground floor at 49 Bedford Street, WC2E 9HA for use as a restaurant. The licence permits late night refreshment from Monday to Thursday between 23:00 and 23:30, and Friday to Saturday between 23:00 and 00:00. The premises will be open to the public from Monday to Thursday between 09:00 and 23:30, and Friday to Saturday between 09:00 and 00:00. Sunday opening hours are from 09:00 to 22:30, with extended hours to midnight on Sundays immediately preceding a bank holiday.

The application had initially faced objections from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Environmental Health Service (EHS), the Licensing Authority (LA), and local residents due to concerns about cumulative impact, public nuisance, and public safety, particularly regarding late-night refreshment hours extending beyond core hours. However, following discussions and amendments, the applicant agreed to reduce the hours for third-party deliveries to align with core hours and accepted a comprehensive set of conditions. These conditions include operating solely as a restaurant serving substantial table meals, maintaining CCTV, keeping an incident log, and restrictions on delivery drivers and waste management. The committee noted that the premises had previously operated as a restaurant and that the agreed conditions, along with the absence of alcohol sales, would promote the licensing objectives and not add to cumulative impact within the West End Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ).

16 Henrietta Street, WC2E 8QH

A new premises licence was granted for 16 Henrietta Street, WC2E 8QH to allow for late night refreshment, recorded music, and the retail sale of alcohol. The licence permits late night refreshment from Monday to Saturday between 23:00 and 00:30, and on Sundays between 23:00 and 00:00. Recorded music will be permitted during the same hours. Alcohol sales are authorised from Monday to Saturday between 10:00 and 00:00, and on Sundays between 12:00 and 23:30. The premises will be open to the public from Monday to Saturday between 10:00 and 00:30, and on Sundays between 12:00 and 00:00.

The application was made by the landlord to reinstate a licence that had lapsed due to the previous tenant's insolvency. Objections were received from two local residents citing concerns about public intoxication, underage drinking, and increased noise and disturbance, particularly given the proximity to residential properties and a nearby venue experiencing noise issues. However, the Environmental Health Service withdrew its objection after noting that the application mirrored the previous licence and that no noise issues had been reported during its operation. The committee granted the licence on the basis that it was a shadow licence ¹ reinstating previous terms, with no evidence that the prior operation had undermined licensing objectives. The premises will operate as a restaurant with specific conditions regarding capacity, waiter service for alcohol, and no takeaway service after 23:00.

Fireaway Pizza, Basement and Ground Floor, 79 Wilton Road, SW1V 1DL

The committee granted a new premises licence for Fireaway Pizza, Basement and Ground Floor, 79 Wilton Road, SW1V 1DL, allowing for late night refreshment and the operation of the premises. Late night refreshment will be permitted from Monday to Thursday between 23:00 and 23:30, and Friday to Sunday between 23:00 and 00:00. The premises will be open to the public from Monday to Thursday between 12:00 and 23:30, and Friday to Sunday between 12:00 and 00:00.

The application received objections from Environmental Health, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), and two local residents. Concerns focused on potential public nuisance and public safety issues, particularly regarding late-night activity, noise from customers and delivery drivers, and litter. The MPS withdrew its objection after the applicant agreed to conditions, including no food delivery services after 23:00 and the use of CCTV. Environmental Health also agreed to proposed conditions, including those related to odour control and waste management. Local residents expressed concerns about increased traffic, noise, and litter, and the potential for the premises to become a late-night magnet. The committee granted the licence with conditions, including no food delivery after 23:00, keeping windows and doors closed after 23:00, and specific waste management requirements. The committee considered these conditions proportionate and enforceable, noting that they represented an improvement on the current situation.