The Licensing Sub-Committee of Richmond upon Thames Council was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Hagen Espresso Bar in Richmond. The committee was also due to approve minutes from previous meetings.

Hagen Espresso Bar – Richmond

The primary focus of the meeting was to hear and determine an opposed application for a new premises licence for Hagen Espresso Bar, located at 52 Hill Street, Richmond, TW9 1TW. The application was situated within the Richmond Town Centre Cumulative Impact Area¹, a designation indicating a high concentration of licensed premises that may lead to issues with public nuisance, crime, and disorder.

The applicant, KR Coffee Ltd, described Hagen Espresso Bar as a Danish specialty coffee bar offering high-quality coffee, food, and a curated selection of alcohol for on-site consumption and limited takeaway. The proposed hours for the sale of alcohol were Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, with extended hours to 21:00 in November and December. The premises were scheduled to be open to the public from 07:00 to 18:00 daily, with extended hours to 21:00 in November and December.

The application had received three relevant representations from Other Persons, including resident associations, who objected on grounds related to public nuisance, crime and disorder, and public safety. Concerns were raised about the proposed outdoor seating encroaching on the pavement, potentially creating a hazard for pedestrians and exacerbating issues in an area already experiencing problems with deliveries and congestion. Representations also highlighted the existing cumulative impact in the area and argued that the applicant had not sufficiently demonstrated that their operation would not negatively affect the licensing objectives.

No representations were received from Responsible Authorities, and the applicant had agreed on conditions with the Metropolitan Police. The report pack detailed the legal considerations, including the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy and the Home Office's Statutory Guidance under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003². The policy regarding cumulative impact creates a rebuttable presumption that applications within such zones will normally be refused unless the applicant can demonstrate no negative impact on licensing objectives.

The committee was to consider the applicant's operating schedule, which outlined proposed steps to promote the licensing objectives, and any additional conditions agreed upon. The report also noted a minor error in the public notice regarding the terminal hour for alcohol sales, which was deemed not to have prejudiced the public interest.