The Hounslow Council Licensing Panel met to consider an application for a new premises licence for Lampton Parkside Café. Councillor Farhaan Rehman was elected as Chair of the meeting. The panel approved the application, subject to conditions and modifications.

Lampton Parkside Café Premises Licence Application

The panel approved an application for a premises licence for Lampton Parkside Café, Unit 2, 88 Lampton Road, Hounslow, TW3 3DJ. The applicant, Goodcare Global UK Properties Ltd, sought permission to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises between 12:00 and 22:00, Monday to Sunday, and to open to the public between 08:00 and 22:00 daily.

The Licensing Officer, whose name is not provided in the documents, advised the panel that the application had been properly made and that all relevant statutory procedures had been followed. The officer confirmed that the premises was not currently licensed and was located in a residential area within the Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP) area covering Hounslow, North West Isleworth, Heston, and Cranford.

Four representations were received from local residents, raising concerns about potential noise, anti-social behaviour, parking pressures, and congestion. The Licensing Act 2003 licensing objectives relating to these concerns are the prevention of public nuisance, crime and disorder, and ensuring public safety.

The Police and the Licensing Enforcement Officer, whose names are not provided in the documents, had engaged with the applicant and agreed on a set of conditions intended to address the licensing objectives.

The applicant's representatives explained that the café was intended to operate as a community hub, offering alcohol only as a complementary element to meals. They confirmed there would be no amplified or live music, only low-level background sound, and all customers would be seated. They stated that noise would be carefully managed, and all Police and Licensing Enforcement conditions had been accepted. CCTV coverage was being expanded, and staff were trained to Level 2 in licensing, with refresher training scheduled regularly.

A resident objector raised concerns about noise disturbance from events already held at the café, noting that the café’s current operating hours were later than those of typical cafés and that introducing alcohol would likely worsen noise, parking pressures, and potential antisocial behaviour. Another objector expressed doubts about the effective enforcement of food with alcohol conditions and raised concerns that granting an alcohol licence would encourage longer stays, louder behaviour, and outdoor gatherings.

The panel carefully considered all relevant information, including the written and oral representations from the parties, the Licensing Act 2003, the revised Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, and the council’s licensing policy. They were satisfied that the application would not undermine the licensing objectives, that the agreed police and licensing enforcement conditions were comprehensive and proportionate, and that the applicant had sufficiently addressed the CIP presumption and demonstrated willingness to accept further safeguards.

The panel resolved to grant the application for a premises licence, subject to all mandatory conditions and the additional conditions agreed with the police, as set out in Appendix C to the licensing officer’s report. These conditions include:

• All staff engaged in licensable activity at the premises receiving training and information on the Challenge 25 scheme¹, the hours and activities permitted by the licence, how to complete and maintain the refusal register, recognising signs of drunkenness, operating procedures for refusing service, and action to be taken in an emergency.
• Maintaining an incident log at the premises, including details of any incidents of disorder, crimes reported, ejections of patrons, complaints received, seizures of drugs or offensive weapons, faults in the CCTV system, and visits by a responsible authority or emergency service.
• Ensuring all alcohol on display is not obscured from the constant view of staff.
• Prohibiting self-service of alcohol on the premises.
• Preserving the crime scene in the event that an incident occurs for which the police have been called.
• Limiting the maximum number of persons allowed at the premises to 60, including staff and patrons.
• Undertaking the collection of glasses and bottles at regular intervals to ensure there is no build-up of empties on the premises.
• Making a telephone number available and displayed in a prominent location for local residents to contact in the case of noise nuisance or anti-social behaviour.
• Prohibiting deliveries related to licensable activities between 23:00 hours and 07:00 hours.
• Taking sufficient measures to remove and prevent litter and waste arising from customers in the area immediately outside the premises.
• Prohibiting collections of waste or recycling materials between 23:00 hours and 07:00 hours.
• Ensuring all staff, supervisors, and managers are trained in the legality and procedure of alcohol sales, with training records maintained on the premises.
• Having in place a written age verification policy, specifying a Challenge 25 proof of age requirement.
• Displaying prominent signage indicating that a Challenge 25 scheme is in operation.
• Keeping an alcohol sales refusal register at the premises, including details of all alcohol sales refused.
• Installing and maintaining a comprehensive CCTV system, with all entry and exit points covered, and recordings stored for a minimum period of 31 days.
• Having a staff member on the premises at all times who is conversant with the operation of the CCTV system.
• Ensuring no alcohol is supplied if the CCTV equipment is inoperative for any reason.
• Taking immediate measures in the event that a serious assault is committed on the premises, including calling the police and ambulance service, apprehending suspects, preserving the crime scene, and protecting the safety of all persons present.
• Prohibiting open vessels from being taken outside the curtilage of the premises at any time.