The Wandsworth Council Licensing Sub-Committee met to discuss a request to extend the hours a shop can sell alcohol, and a review of a premises licence for a bar. The committee did not make a decision on either of the applications during the meeting, and will announce their decisions in writing within five working days.

Best One, 169 Putney High Street

Inventure Putney Limited has applied to vary its premises licence for Best One at 169 Putney High Street. The shop has a licence to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises. They want to extend their hours for the sale of alcohol to 2am every day. Currently, they can sell alcohol until midnight, Sunday to Thursday, and until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Sumit Anand, Licensing Officer, told the sub-committee that the council's Environmental Services Noise and Nuisance Team had objected to the application because of the potential impact on nearby homes, noise from customers and delivery riders.

Councillor Sumitra Varadharaj asked for clarification on why the hours had been reduced in 2022, and why the applicant was seeking to extend the hours from Monday to Thursday. Sumit Anand, Licensing Officer, said that the council's records did not show why the hours were reduced in 2022, as the applicant had voluntarily reduced them.

Graeme Hopkins, agent for the applicant, Mr Amipara, said that the shop is a one-stop shop that is already open 24/7, and that the extended hours were needed to meet the needs of customers who might want to buy some food and a bottle of wine. He added that the applicant had offered additional measures to prevent disturbance to residents, and that no residents had objected to the application.

Mr Amipara told the sub-committee that the shop had been following all the rules and regulations since 2014, and that there had been a number of test purchases and visits from council officers. He said that there had been one incident in 2022, where a fight broke out between drunk customers outside the shop, but that the police were satisfied that the shop had complied with its policies.

Gholam Chowdhury, representing the Environmental Services Noise and Nuisance Team, said that the application was beyond the council's policy, which states that premises selling alcohol for consumption off the premises should close at midnight, Sunday to Thursday, and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. He said that noise surveys indicate that ambient noise levels fall around midnight during the week, and that residents can tolerate noise disturbance when ambient noise levels are high, but not when they are low. He added that shops selling alcohol can attract people leaving other licensed premises to top up their consumption, and that noise from revellers, people smoking outside, and delivery drivers cannot be controlled other than by limiting the hours in which premises can operate.

Graeme Hopkins asked Gholam Chowdhury to confirm whether environmental health were objecting to the Friday and Saturday hours, as the framework hours are 2am anyway. Gholam Chowdhury confirmed that his colleague had not objected to Friday and Saturday.

Tequila Mockingbird (now known as Bad Habits Club), 46 Battersea Rise

Hafer Road Neighbourhood Watch applied for a review of the premises licence for Tequila Mockingbird, now known as Bad Habits Club on the grounds that the premises had failed to uphold the licensing objectives under the Licensing Act 2003, in particular in relation to prevention of crime disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

Sumit Anand, Licensing Officer, told the sub-committee that the applicant stated that there had been incidents requiring police intervention, antisocial behaviour, and loud music. He also noted that the licensee had submitted a transfer application to transfer the premises licence from Jonathan Bass to a company called Bar SW1 Ltd, of which Mr Bass is a director.

Laurent Kissis, speaking on behalf of the Neighbourhood Watch, said that the same management that caused years of problems as Tequila Mockingbird has now reopened, operating as the Bad Habits Club. He said that the core of the problem is that the same operator has failed to uphold some of the basic licensing objectives. He raised concerns about loud music, police incidents, and a lack of genuine operation changes. He also said that the marketing information that is now advertised contradicts the premises of rule-breaking, anything-goes, loud and unapologetic.

Laurent Kissis said that the Neighbourhood Watch welcomed the additional proposal conditions put forward by Mr Bass, but that they also wanted their comprehensive five-point plan implemented, which included:

• Reduced operating hours
• Noise control measures
• Management and security
• Monitoring and compliance
• Community engagement

Roberta Adami, a member of the Neighbourhood Watch, said that there had been an improvement since the bar had reopened, but that she was still concerned about the way they advertise themselves, as that might attract customers that are not really appropriate for a residential area.

Felix Faulkner, representing the applicant, Jonathan Bass, clarified that a condition requiring windows and doors to be closed is disapplied between 8am and 11pm due to the Live Music Act 2012¹. He said that his client has owned and operated licensed premises across London since 2015, and is a well-respected operator. He said that the premises has been licensed since 2004, and that the change to Bad Habits Club has attracted a different clientele, with a focus on an older crowd and less groups. He said that the review had been submitted without any prior engagement with his client, and does not refer to any evidence of recent breaches of the licensing objectives. He also said that the premises has never previously been subject to review before, and it's seven years of good operation.

Jonathan Bass, owner, operator, said that the premises was very busy as Tequila Mockingbird, but that the whole Tequila Mockingbird thing with the dancing and the big groups of girls, partying, whatever, has kind of died a death. He said that they made the decision to change to a U.S.-style bar with a strong focus on craft beer and competitive entertainment.

Councillor Rosemary Birchall asked what sort of numbers the business has, and Jonathan Bass, owner, operator, said that they have a condition on their licence which limits them to 120 customers, but that they have only been having 20-30 customers, and that everybody is just seated, and the music is background level.

Councillor Katrina Ffrench asked about the marketing language used, such as a place for rule breakers , and Jonathan Bass, owner, operator, said that it is tongue-in-cheek, and that they have gone down a new music policy route, and are playing rock music now.