The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to convene to consider an application to vary a premises licence for The Drill Hotel on Brentwood Road in Romford. The application, submitted by Star Pubs Trading Limited, seeks to extend the hours for licensable activities and the premises' opening hours, as well as to permit licensable activities to continue on New Year's Eve until the end of permitted hours on New Year's Day. Councillors Philippa Crowder, Chair of the Licensing Sub-Committee, Jane Keane and Christine Smith are expected to attend.

Application to Vary a Premises Licence - The Drill Hotel

Star Pubs Trading Limited has applied to Havering Council to vary the premises licence for The Drill Hotel, Brentwood Road, Romford, under section 34 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The proposed variations to the licence are:

• To extend all licensable activities permitted internally to 00:00 Monday to Thursday and 01:00 Friday and Saturday, with the exception of the shed bar, which will continue to operate under its existing permitted hours.
• To permit licensable activities to continue on New Year's Eve until the end of permitted hours on New Year's Day.
• To increase the terminal hours the premises closes to the public to 00:20 Monday to Thursday and 01:20 Friday and Saturday.
• To add a condition to the licence requiring notices to be displayed at all exits reminding customers to leave the area quietly and respecting the needs of local residents.

According to the Public reports pack, there were no objections from residents or businesses, but representations against the application were received from the Licensing Authority, Havering's Environmental Health Service, and the Police.

Licensing Authority Representation

Oisin Daly, representing the London Borough of Havering/Licensing, has objected to the application, stating that granting the variation is likely to undermine the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance.

The representation refers to the council's licensing policy, specifically:

• Licensing Hours: The policy states that the Licensing Authority may give more favourable consideration to applications with closing times of 23:00 hours Sunday to Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday for public houses and bars. It also notes that consideration will be given to the type of area, with regulated activities normally being permitted until 23:30 in residential areas and 00:30 in mixed-use areas.
• Noise: The policy states that the Licensing Authority is committed to protecting the amenity of residents and businesses in the vicinity of licensed premises, particularly when late hours have been sought.

The representation states that the premises is situated in a residential area and that the public nuisance licensing objective is likely to be undermined. It acknowledges that the premises is on a busy roundabout and close to a mixed-use commercial area, but notes that there have been issues in the past with patrons congregating in the area upon egress, causing noise nuisance to neighbours.

The representation also raises concerns about the potential for increased crime and disorder with increased hours of alcohol sales, stating that this can impact an individual's decision-making abilities and become a risk factor in issues of anti-social behaviour and violence.

Environmental Health Representation

Mike Richardson, Team Leader, Environmental Health (Environmental Protection), has raised concerns regarding the prevention of public nuisance. The concerns relate to the use of the beer garden and the noise from customers as they leave the premises in the early hours of the morning. Mr Richardson notes that a Public Nuisance Policy is to be agreed between the premises licence holder/designated premises supervisor¹ and the Environmental Health team at the council, but that there are no records of this agreement. Mr Richardson states that the current licence requires that music and speakers are not to be provided to the external areas of the venue, but that this does not address the concerns regarding customer noise in the outside areas, particularly in the summer months. He also raises concerns that the proposed hours are in excess of the council's licensing policy.

Police Representation

PC Chris Stockman, from the East Area Licensing Team, has objected to the application under the licensing objectives of the prevention of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder.

The representation states that The Drill Public House is located within a predominantly residential area and that an extension of trading hours is likely to have an adverse impact on the local community and undermine the licensing objectives.

PC Stockman refers to an incident on Christmas Day in 2022 where patrons from the venue were involved in a large-scale physical altercation in the street. The police acknowledge that this is not a regular occurrence, but state that it demonstrates that violent offences involving intoxicated patrons have occurred at such hours.

The representation also notes that the area surrounding The Drill is not a late-night economy zone and lacks the infrastructure to safely support premises operating until 01:20.

Other Matters

The agenda also includes items relating to apologies for absence, disclosure of interests, the Chairman's announcements, and the report of the clerk. These items are procedural in nature.