The Licensing Panel met to consider licensing applications for Syon House and The Great Conservatory, both located in Syon Park, Brentford. The panel was scheduled to discuss representations and objections to a new premises licence for Syon House and a variation of an existing premises licence for The Great Conservatory.

Syon House Premises Licence Application

Syon House Ventures submitted an application for a new premises licence for Syon House, Syon Park. The licensable activities applied for were:

• Supply of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises: Monday to Sunday 10:00 to 02:00
• Performance of Plays - Indoors: Monday to Sunday 23:00 to 02:00
• Live Music - Indoors: Monday to Sunday 23:00 to 02:00
• Recorded Music - Indoors: Monday to Sunday 23:00 to 02:00
• Performance of Dance - Indoors: Monday to Sunday 23:00 to 02:00
• Late Night Refreshment – Indoors and Outdoors: Monday to Sunday 23:00 to 02:00
• The opening hours of the premises: Monday to Sunday 10:00 to 03:00

The Panel Report - Syon House noted that the premises were not currently licensed and are situated in an area of Syon Park with surrounding residential properties.

The applicant, Syon House Ventures, completed an operating schedule, detailing the steps they proposed to take to promote the four licensing objectives¹. These included measures for:

• The prevention of crime and disorder, such as maintaining appropriate staffing levels, securing high value items, training staff on security issues, and having a zero-tolerance drug policy.
• Public safety, including keeping grounds free from obstruction, installing and maintaining fire-fighting equipment, undertaking fire risk assessments, maintaining effective lighting, and conducting risk assessments for each event.
• The prevention of public nuisance, such as preventing light nuisance, keeping the site free from litter, supervising the orderly dispersal of visitors, restricting deliveries and waste removal times, ensuring live or recorded music is not audible at nearby noise sensitive properties, conducting regular noise assessments, and logging and addressing noise complaints.
• The protection of children from harm, including promoting the property as family-friendly, having an effective age verification policy (Challenge 25), displaying appropriate notices, training staff in responsible alcohol retailing and the protection of children, and keeping records of refused alcohol sales.

The Panel Report - Syon House included extracts from the council's Statement of Licensing Policy 2020-25, which states that when considering applications, the licensing authority will have regard to the Licensing Act 2003, government guidance, supporting regulations, and the council's licensing policy. The council will also consider the operating schedule, the suitability of the premises, any cumulative impact policy, and any representations received.

The Panel Report - Syon House stated that the application had been advertised and the appropriate ward councillors, neighbouring wards, local residents and responsible authorities had been consulted. It also noted that eleven representations had been received from local residents concerned with the possible increase of public nuisance. The representations were attached as Appendix B - Representations_redacted.

The police and the Licensing Enforcement Team did not make a representation but agreed to conditions, which were attached as Appendix C - Responsible Authorities Agreed Conditions 1.

The applicant sent a letter to all residents that had made a representation, as attached as Appendix D - Letter to Resident Objectors.

The report stated that conditions may only be attached to the grant of a licence where they are deemed appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives, and that there is a right of appeal to the Magistrates Court by any party aggrieved by any decision of the Panel.

The Panel Report - Syon House noted that the following options were open to the Panel:

• To grant the application in full and on the terms and conditions contained within the application to include any applicable mandatory conditions.
• To grant the application as above, modified to such an extent as considered appropriate to satisfy any relevant representations and promote the licensing objectives; or
• To reject the application in whole or in part.

The Great Conservatory Variation Application

Syon House Ventures also submitted an application for a variation of the premises licence for The Great Conservatory, Syon Park. The applicant proposed to increase the hours for licensable activity in relation to the following:

• Supply of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises: Monday to Sunday 10:00 to 01:00
• Performance of Plays - Indoors: Monday to Sunday 09:00 to 01:00
• Exhibition of Films – Indoors: Monday to Sunday 09:00 to 01:00
• Live Music – Indoors: Monday to Sunday 09:00 to 01:00
• Recorded Music - Indoors: Monday to Sunday 09:00 to 01:00
• Performance of Dance - Indoors: Monday to Sunday 09:00 to 01:00
• Late Night Refreshment: Monday to Sunday 23:00 to 01:00
• The opening hours of the premises: Monday to Sunday 09:00 to 02:00

The Variation Report - The Great Conservatory stated that the premises were currently licensed for the following activities and hours:

• Supply of alcohol: Monday to Sunday, 12:00 to 00:00
• Music and Dancing: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 to 00:00
• Hours premises are open to the public: Monday to Saturday 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The applicant also proposed amended conditions, including:

• A function manager and SIA steward must be present at every event where licensable activity is occurring, when the expected capacity of that event exceeds 30 visitors.
• The number of persons accommodated within the Great Conservatory will not exceed 350 or if seated at tables will not exceed 180.
• The doors leading to the Lily Pond and Cactus Houses shall be unlocked at all times the premises are in use under the terms of this licence.
• During all functions where regulated entertainment is occurring, only the doors and windows on the inside of the building, facing onto the formal lawns, may be kept open until 21.30hrs, at which point they must be closed and only used for ingress and egress of the building. This condition includes the doors and windows of both the Lily Pond area and the Cactus House, located on either end of the building.
• During all functions where regulated entertainment is occurring, doors and windows on the outer side of the building, facing onto the rear lawns must be kept always closed unless required for wheelchair or emergency access to or from the building; this includes planned alterations to the building at the Lily Pond end, which will relate to WC access. This includes doors and windows in both the Lily Pond and Cactus House area, located at either end of the building. However, it does permit use of doors to vacate the premises after cessation of functions past permitted times for licensable activities.

The Variation Report - The Great Conservatory stated that the application had been advertised and the appropriate ward and neighbouring ward councillors and responsible authorities had been consulted. It also noted that seven representations had been received from local residents concerned with the possible increase of public nuisance. The representations were attached as Appendix C - Representations - The Great Conservatory_redacted.

The report stated that conditions may only be attached to the grant of a licence where they are deemed appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives, and that there is a right of appeal to the Magistrates Court by any party aggrieved by any decision of the Panel.

The Variation Report - The Great Conservatory noted that the following options were open to the Panel:

• To grant the application in full and on the terms and conditions contained within the application to include any applicable mandatory conditions.
• To grant the application as above, modified to such an extent as considered appropriate to satisfy any relevant representations and promote the licensing objectives; or
• To reject the application in whole or in part.

Other agenda items

The agenda for the meeting also included:

• A Monitoring Officer Note on Interests, reminding committee members to declare any interests they may have in the matters being discussed.
• The appointment of a chair for the meeting.
• Reference documents to assist the Panel's consideration of cases, including the Order of Business, Licensing Panel Procedure 2025, and the council's Statement of Licensing Policy 2020-25.