The Hammersmith and Fulham Licensing Sub-Committee has granted a premises licence for the Black Bull at 257 King Street, with conditions. The committee approved the sale of alcohol on and off the premises and opening hours from 11am to 11pm, but refused applications for later hours and recorded music. The decision followed concerns from local residents about potential noise and disruption, which led to additional conditions to mitigate noise, ensure staff training, facilitate meetings with residents, and provide a contact number for complaints.

Black Bull Licensing Application

The sub-committee considered an application from Gregorian Hotel Trading Limited for a new premises licence for the Black Bull, 257 King Street, London, W6 9LU, which had previously been surrendered. The application sought permission for:

• Recorded music indoors
• Late night refreshment indoors
• The sale of alcohol on and off the premises
• Non-standard timings for New Year's Eve

Following discussions with the police, the applicant agreed to reduce the terminal hour for recorded music and the sale of alcohol. The police, noise team and public safety team subsequently withdrew their objections. However, 33 representations from local residents remained, leading to the hearing.

Ultimately, the committee decided to grant the application in part, permitting the sale of alcohol and setting opening hours to 11am to 11pm, seven days a week.

Objections from Local Residents

Residents raised concerns regarding the Licensing Act 2003 licensing objectives, particularly:

• The prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• The prevention of public nuisance
• The protection of children from harm

Freddie Toy, representing residents of Revellius House, argued that the area around Ravenscourt Park is a family residential area with many academic institutions. He cited statistics suggesting a correlation between alcohol consumption and violent crime, and expressed concerns about the impact of a drinking establishment on the safety and well-being of children in the area. He suggested that the committee should be mindful of the scandals that hit Rotherham Council on this topic.

Calliope Florides, a resident of Bencourt Place, spoke about the impact of noise from the Black Bull on her home, and the fear and intimidation she felt walking home at night. She also raised concerns about the proximity of the pub to schools and the risk of children being exposed to late-night drinking culture.

Steve Askins, representing Peter's Residence Association, noted that the police review and conditions related to the prevention of crime and disorder, but not the impact on residents. He said that the area is a residential area in a hotel and not a mixed area, and that the architecture of the area would trap sound.

William Aylward, speaking on behalf of Dr Hazel Willis, said that the area is now almost 100% residential, and that the growth of online ordering and local independent stores meant that the area was already well served with alcohol licences. He said that the proposed hours were too late from a health standpoint, and that people leaving the Black Bull would disturb the sleep of residents.

Michael Harley, a resident of Revillea's house, said that hundreds of children walk home alone past the pub every day, and that it was simply not an appropriate place for a pub. He said that the last time the pub was open, it was a nightmare for residents, with unsavoury characters lingering outside, and people urinating in the streets.

Applicant's Response

Piers Warne, the applicant's agent, said that the applicant, Bashar Gregorian, owned the building with the Premier Inn hotel in it, and so had a vested interest in ensuring the pub promoted the licensing objectives and didn't disturb the guests. He said that the applicant was looking for a tenant who saw the pub's potential to become a community asset, but that it would need a tenant who understood and was sensitive to the needs of the area.

Mr Warne said that the application was for a traditional British pub, not a nightclub, and that the area was in a mixed commercial and residential area. He said that the hours agreed with the environmental protection officer were the hours that he proposed, and that a 10pm close would not be commercially viable for a pub. He also said that it was unfair to tar the applicant with the same brush as previous operators of the pub.

Mr Warne said that the applicant had agreed to a condition that no drinks would be permitted to be taken into the external area until this condition had been removed by way of a variation to the premises licence. He said that the applicant would be keen to look at having outside drinking areas in the future, but that this would be subject to a separate application.

Urban Matrix Report

During the hearing, William Aylward raised a point of order that a report by Urban Matrix, an urban planning consultancy, had been submitted before the deadline but was not showing up on the agenda. The committee took a 15-minute adjournment to allow members to read the report.

After the adjournment, Mr Aylward said that the report contained statistical evidence that crime is increased around public houses, and that the area was one of the most densely populated schools areas in the country. He also said that people leaving a late-night premises would cause a disturbance which would in turn cause harm from mental health and lack of sleep.

Mr Warne said that the report didn't add much more to what was said by Mr Toy, and that a lot of pubs sit in high density residential neighbourhoods and near schools without any issue. He also said that adding conditions to a license was good practice, not a sign of concern about the operation and premises.

Committee Questions and Deliberation

During committee questions, Councillor Wesley Harcourt, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Ecology, asked about the use of the forecourt, and whether the premises licence area included the forecourt. Adrian Overton, the licensing team manager, confirmed that the forecourt area belonged to the premises, but that the applicant had agreed to a condition that no drinks would be permitted to be taken into the external area until this condition had been removed by way of a variation to the premises licence.

Councillor Harcourt also asked how Mr Gregorian would ensure that a new tenant would abide by everything, and whether he would be monitoring it. Mr Gregorian said that he had rejected 14 applications from non-covenant tenants since 2017, and that he was dealing with agents to try and find a tenant, but that he would not continue unless he had the license to get a good covenant tenant.

Councillor Jose Afonso, Opposition Leader, asked about the safety of children, and what the dangers were. Calliope Florides said that it was a vulnerable situation, and that there was no visibility at night time. She said that the main concern was with the lateness of the current license, and people spilling out at 11pm.

Following questions, the committee moved into a closed session to deliberate.

Decision

Upon returning, Councillor Callum Nimmo announced that the committee had decided to grant the application in part, with the following conditions:

1. The sale of alcohol on and off the premises, Monday to Sunday, 11 a.m to 11 p.m
2. The hours open to the public, Monday to Sunday, 11 a.m to 11 30 p.m
3. The conditions proposed by the police and agreed by the applicant
4. The proposed condition by the applicant that no drinks will be permitted to be taken into the external area until this condition has been removed by way of variation to the premises license
5. Additional conditions to mitigate noise, for the training of staff, for meeting with residents, and adding a contact number at the premises for residents to lodge complaints

Councillor Nimmo said that a copy of the committee's full decision, including its reasons and the full text of the conditions, would be sent to the parties.