The Licensing Sub-Committee of Southwark Council was scheduled to convene on 24 June 2025, to consider an application to vary the premises licence for Oo La La Lounge. The sub-committee was also scheduled to elect a chair for the meeting and confirm voting members.

Here's a breakdown of the key items that were expected to be discussed:

Oo La La Lounge - 57-59 Camberwell Road

The main item on the agenda was an application from Jodell Bria Edwards to vary the premises licence for Oo La La Lounge at 57-59 Camberwell Road, London SE5 0EZ.

Specifically, Ms Edwards sought to extend the hours for:

• The sale of alcohol (on sales)
• The provision of late night refreshment (indoors)
• The provision of regulated entertainment in the form of recorded music and live music (indoors)
• The general opening hours of the premises

The proposed hours were:

• Sunday to Thursday: until 01:00 for licensable activities and 01:30 for opening hours
• Friday and Saturday: until 03:00 for licensable activities and 03:30 for opening hours
• New Year's Eve: until 03:00 the following day for licensable activities and opening hours

According to the report pack, the applicant stated that:

This variation application is to extend the trading hours of the business and to allow for additional regulated entertainment, and additional hours for the sale of alcohol.

The report pack noted that the applicant incorrectly stated that the extended hours would not be impacted by the Late Night Levy¹.

Representations from Responsible Authorities

The Metropolitan Police Service (Licensing Division) objected to the application in its entirety, stating that the hours were excessive and unsuitable for a residential area, and that the premises had a history of crime and disorder. PC Mark Lynch of the Metropolitan Police Service stated that the operating schedule offered in the application was inadequate.

The council's environmental protection team also raised concerns about the history of complaints related to the premises and its suitability for the requested licensable activities. However, they indicated they would consider withdrawing their objection if the premises provided a professional acoustic assessment. Ken Andrews, a Principal Environmental Health Officer at Southwark Council, sent a memo stating that the Environmental Protection Responsible Authority (EPRA) had significant concerns based on the premises' operational history.

The council's trading standards team initially made a representation under the licensing objective of the protection of children from harm, requesting additional conditions to be added to the licence. However, this representation was later withdrawn after the applicant agreed to the requested conditions. Charlie Jerrom, an Enforcement Officer in Trading Standards at Southwark Council, confirmed that Trading Standards withdrew their representations on the basis of the email below.

Representations from Other Persons

The council received representations from 36 other persons, all raising concerns about the history of the premises and the potential for issues to reoccur if later hours were granted.

Many of the representations from other persons referred to previous issues at the site when it was trading as Ibb's Bars and Restaurant, Southbank Nightclub, and Club Ebony.

One local resident stated that:

Increasing opening hours will likely result in disturbance to residents from loud music, shouting and fighting outside. This has occurred before during late night opening of the premises over the last 5 years, but also specifically in the 6 months. Increasing the opening hours will be detrimental and likely cause in increase in public nuisance and disturbance to residents.

Another wrote:

I am concerned that this is a very similar proposal to Ibb's and formally SouthBank NighClub restaurant and bar that we have had so many problems with in the past. The similarity is in terms of music being played and alcohol being served until 01:00hrs 5 days a week and until 03:00hrs Friday – Saturday nights.

Premises History

The report pack outlined the premises' history, including previous licence reviews and temporary event notices. The premises was originally licensed in 2006 and had undergone several transfers and variations since then. A review of the premises licence was initiated in 2022 but was later appealed and referred back to the sub-committee for a 'de novo' hearing².

Southwark Council's Statement of Licensing Policy

The report pack referenced Southwark's statement of licensing policy 2021-2026, noting that the premises lies outside of a cumulative impact area³ but within a residential area. The recommended closing hours for restaurants and public houses in such areas are 23:00. Night clubs are not considered appropriate for this area.

The report pack also included supplementary advice from the Assistant Chief Executive – Governance and Assurance, outlining the principles for making a determination on the application, conditions, reasons, and hearing procedures.