The Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee of Waltham Forest Council scheduled a meeting to discuss licensing applications for two premises. The committee, chaired by Councillor Catherine Deakin, was scheduled to consider applications for Moncher, and Blondies Brewery. The Sub-Committee was to consider the applications, taking into account the views expressed by the applicants, and any representations from responsible authorities and other persons.

Moncher, 75a High Street, Walthamstow, E17 7DB

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application for the grant of a premises licence for Moncher, located at 75a High Street, Walthamstow, E17 7DB.

Marius Bus applied for the licence, seeking permission for:

• Sale of alcohol on and off the premises: 11:00-22:30 daily
• Opening hours: 09:00-23:00 daily

According to the report pack, the licensing section received one representation from another person, based on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance.

The report pack included correspondence from Panos Karagkiouloglou, a resident at Dominion Apartments, Mission Grove, E17 7FX, who raised concerns about noise nuisance since the premises opened in early August. Panos Karagkiouloglou stated that there had been repeated instances of loud amplified music, shouting and singing at various times of day, which was clearly audible within their home.

Panos Karagkiouloglou requested the following conditions be added to the licence, referencing Waltham Forest's licensing policy:

1. Doors & windows closed whenever amplified music is playing; no speakers near party walls.
2. Read area/garden roof to remain fully closed/sealed at all times with installation of material that provides for better sound proofing.
3. Music limited to background level only unless and until an approved acoustic scheme is in place.
4. Prevent patrons from using this rear area for eating or drinking after 22:00 as this is a densely residential area.
5. Installation of soundproofing.
6. Clear please leave quietly signage and an active dispersal policy.
7. Clear"
8. Reducing the volume of music towards the end of the evening and where appropriate playing quieter, more soothing music as the evening/morning winds down.
9. Steps be taken to prevent someone who has consumed excess alcohol from entering the premises and to manage individuals that have consumed excess alcohol whilst on the premises.

Following this representation, the applicant engaged with Panos Karagkiouloglou and proposed a number of conditions to be added to the operating schedule.

Sherman Xavier, Licensing Enforcement Officer, communicated that conditions 5 and 8 were not enforceable by responsible authorities.

Panos Karagkiouloglou then suggested revised wording for some of the conditions:

3: The rear garden/covered area, and the existing PVC roof, shall remain fully closed/sealed at all times.

(If the Council considers at all times disproportionate, I would accept: shall remain fully closed from 20:00 hours daily and whenever amplified music is playing. )

5: Soundproofing improvements will be explored and implemented where possible. Until these improvements are implemented, noise control measures will be taken as follows: Within 15 days of the licence being granted, the licence holder shall arrange an on-site noise assessment with the Council's Environmental Health team to determine appropriate measures to prevent noise breakout and public nuisance. The licence holder shall implement any measures specified by Environmental Health, which may include a noise limiting device set and sealed by the Council, within 30 days of notification and shall maintain those measures thereafter.

10: Music or amplified sound shall not be audible above background level at the nearest noise-sensitive façade. Staff shall carry out external noise checks at least every 30 minutes from 18:00 hours until close, recording the time, location, findings and any corrective action taken in a written log kept at the premises and made available for inspection by the Council.

Panos Karagkiouloglou stated that if the Environmental Health team supported the wording above, together with the other conditions already offered, they would be happy to withdraw their representation once they had seen the exact final text of the conditions that would appear on the premises licence and operating schedule.

Blondies Brewery, 258 Church Road, Leyton, E10 7JQ

The Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee were scheduled to consider an application for the grant of a premises licence for Blondies Brewery, located at 258 Church Road, Leyton, E10 7JQ. This meeting was an adjournment from 11 September 2025.

Verity Cox applied for the licence, seeking permission for:

• Plays, films, live music, recorded music, sale of alcohol on and off-sales: 08:00-23:00 daily
• Opening hours: 08:00-23:30 daily

The licensing section received one representation from the licensing team, based on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance. The licensing team's representation also highlighted the issue that the applicant did not appear to have full access or authorization to use the whole premises area as depicted in the floorplan. The licensing team viewed that the area listed as exhibition space/café/restaurant, should not be considered as part of the licensed area.

The report pack notes that Licensing had had many historical issues with the premises before Blondies took it over, when it was known as Patchworks, and that the area where Blondies now have music events was a source of noise nuisance on a number of occasions. The report pack stated:

It is an old factory building with very poor or non-existent noise insulation. At present it is not suitable for loud music events and it is clear that a great deal of investment would be needed in order to ensure noise from events held there are not audible in nearby residential properties.

The Licensing team suggested that another plan of the premises should be submitted with the building labelled 'exhibition space/café/restaurant' removed.

The application stated that it was for a mixed use space, venue, community hub, and makerspace, currently comprising of a brewery, taproom, venue, cafe, food vendors, artist studio, and events space, and that the application was to comply with a licensing review hearing. The application also stated that the applicant was submitting a full variation application to update the floorplan of the premises, and that this was to be discussed with the Council's Licensing team before submission of the application.

The applicant stated that after taking legal advice, the review decision had been appealed to the magistrate's court, so therefore they were unable to vary the current licence at this time as it was pending an appeal hearing. The applicant stated that if this licence was granted as applied for, the current licence in force would be surrendered and therefore all costly legal costs / court time etc for all parties would be avoided.