The Licensing Sub-Committee (1) of Westminster City Council convened on Thursday 25 September 2025, to consider four licensing applications. Councillor Aziz Toki, Chair of Licensing, Councillor Md Shamsed Chowdhury, Deputy Cabinet Member - Streets and Lead Member - Edgware Road Champion, and Councillor Karen Scarborough were scheduled to be in attendance. The Sub-Committee was expected to consider each application in light of Westminster's Licensing Policy and national guidance.

Counter By Naroon, 63 Great Titchfield Street

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Counter By Naroon, located at 63 Great Titchfield Street. The applicant, 63 Gts Ltd, described the premises as an authentic traditional Persian café/restaurant . The application sought permission for:

• Late night refreshment, both indoors and outdoors, from 11:00 pm to 11:30 pm Monday to Thursday, and from 11:00 pm to 12:00 am Friday and Saturday.
• Recorded music indoors from 11:00 pm to 11:30 pm Monday to Thursday, and from 11:00 pm to 12:00 am Friday and Saturday.
• Retail sale of alcohol, both on and off the premises, from 9:00 am to 11:30 pm Monday to Thursday, from 9:00 am to 12:00 am Friday and Saturday, and from 9:00 am to 10:30 pm on Sunday.

According to the Public Reports Pack, Environmental Health initially objected to the application, citing concerns about public nuisance and safety, but withdrew their objection after the applicant agreed to additional conditions.

Several residents also objected to the application. Concerns raised by residents, included:

• Noise and disturbance from the premises, particularly from a glazed roof/conservatory.
• The premises operating as a customer overflow for the adjacent Naroon restaurant at 65 Great Titchfield Street.
• The applicant's disregard for residents, including erecting unlawful extraction ducts.
• Customers spilling into the streets and leaving nitrous oxide canisters.

The applicant's representative submitted a letter to the committee, stating that the application was to regularise the alcohol licence under the current operating company, following the dissolution of the previous licence holder company. The letter also addressed the concerns raised by residents, refuting claims of noise officers attending the premises and highlighting the measures taken to minimise disturbance.

The applicant also provided a proposed operating schedule, including measures such as an incident log, CCTV system, staff training, and a dispersal policy.

Kupp, 5 Merchant Square

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application to vary the premises licence for Kupp, located at Unit 53, 5 Merchant Square. The applicant, Jd Wetherspoon Plc, sought to:

• Vary the start time for the sale of alcohol each day to 09:00.
• Vary condition 21 to allow substantial food and suitable beverages other than intoxicating liquor to be available until 22:30 Monday to Thursday, 23:00 Friday and Saturday, and 21:30 on Sunday.
• Vary condition 26 to allow alcohol to be consumed in external areas provided for that purpose.
• Remove condition 52, which stated that all outside customers must be seated after 21:00.

The Paddington Waterways and Maida Vale Society (PWMVS) and the Hyde Park Estate Association (HPEA) objected to the application. The PWMVS raised concerns about the change in operation from an independently owned Scandinavian-themed premises to a large chain pub known for its competitive pricing of alcohol. They also objected to the earlier commencement time for the sale of alcohol and the proposal to remove the requirement for customers outside to be seated after 21:00. The HPEA also objected to the earlier opening time, and raised concerns about anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance.

11 Dacre Street

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for 11 Dacre Street. The applicant, Mr Dhavalkumar Trivedi, intended to trade as a convenience retail store. The application sought permission for the retail sale of alcohol, for consumption off the premises only, from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm Monday to Saturday, and from 10:00 am to 10:30 pm on Sunday.

Environmental Health initially objected to the application, but withdrew their objection after the applicant agreed to further conditions.

A resident objected to the application, citing concerns about increased antisocial behaviour, public nuisance, crime and disorder, and public safety risks. The resident also raised concerns about privacy due to the proposed CCTV system.

The applicant's representative stated that the premises was not located within a Cumulative Impact Zone¹ and that the application proposed hours that fell entirely within Westminster City Council's Core Hours Policy. The representative also highlighted the applicant's commitment to a range of operational controls, including a Challenge 25 policy, CCTV system, restrictions on the sale of high-strength alcohol, and active supervision of the external frontage.

70 Old Compton Street

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Basement And Ground Floor Front, 70 Old Compton Street. The applicant, Mrs Suppanawin Kesinee, proposed to open a restaurant at the premises. The application sought permission for the sale of alcohol, for consumption on the premises only, from 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm Monday to Saturday, and from 12:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Sunday.

Environmental Health and the Metropolitan Police Service initially objected to the application, but withdrew their objections after the applicant agreed to further conditions.

The Soho Society objected to the application, citing concerns about cumulative impact, crime rates, and public nuisance in the area.

The Public Reports Pack notes that the Licensing Authority also initially had concerns about the application, but withdrew their objection following agreement of further conditions. The Licensing Authority encouraged the applicant to consider the addition of the Council's model restaurant condition, MC 66, which sets out the conditions for a premises to operate as a restaurant.