The Licensing Review Sub-Committee of Greenwich Council met on Tuesday, 26 August 2025, to review the premises licence for Hayatt Lounge and to initiate a statutory consultation for a revised Statement of Licensing Policy. The committee approved recommendations to modify the terminal hours for licensable activities at Hayatt Lounge and to commence the formal statutory consultation on a revised Statement of Licensing Policy.

Review of Premises Licence for Hayatt Lounge

The Licensing Sub-Committee resolved to modify the terminal hours for licensable activities at Hayatt Lounge, located at 114-126 Westmoor Street, Charlton, London SE7 8NQ. Under the new conditions, all licensable activities will now terminate at 2:30 am from Monday to Wednesday, with the premises closing to the public at 3:00 am. From Thursday to Sunday, activities will cease at 3:30 am, with the premises closing at 4:00 am. The interim steps previously imposed on 31st July 2025, which had truncated the licensed hours to 1:00 am daily, will no longer apply.

The decision was based on considerable evidence presented by the police regarding serious crime and disorder associated with the premises. The police highlighted 48 incidents of crime linked to Hayatt Lounge, noting that the majority of these occurred after 2:00 am. These incidents, which included violence in the immediate vicinity of the premises, involved patrons and those attempting to gain entry, and were linked to the venue's business model as a late-night club and bar, particularly since the variation permitting vertical drinking in designated areas in July 2024.

Counsel for the licence holder argued that the proposed restrictions were overly harsh and could lead to the business's collapse, potentially causing 50 job losses. They contended that the problems were external to the premises and not a result of mismanagement. However, the Sub-Committee was persuaded by the police's evidence, noting that the increase in operating hours had correlated with an increase in crime incidents. While acknowledging that the premises had implemented security measures, the Sub-Committee found these insufficient to prevent the serious crime and disorder. The decision to modify the hours, rather than revoke the licence entirely, was made after considering the arguments from both sides, with the Sub-Committee noting that while there was no crime inside the premises or breach of licence conditions, the external issues were significant.

Initiation of Statutory Consultation for Revised Statement of Licensing Policy

The committee also approved the commencement of the formal statutory consultation for a revised Statement of Licensing Policy under the terms of the Licensing Act 2003. This policy outlines how the council will promote the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. The consultation process will allow stakeholders and the public to provide feedback on the proposed changes before the policy is formally adopted.