The Licensing Sub Committee A of Islington Council was scheduled to consider a variation to the premises licence for The Chocolate Cocktail Club. This included proposed changes to operating hours and the addition of recorded music, which generated significant objections from local residents concerned about noise and nuisance.

Premises Licence Variation - The Chocolate Cocktail Club

The meeting was scheduled to discuss an application to vary the premises licence for The Chocolate Cocktail Club, located at 72 St John Street, London, EC1M 4DT. The proposed variation included allowing the premises to open on Tuesdays from 13:30 to 18:00, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 18:30 to 22:30, and Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 13:30 to 22:30. The application also initially included a request to add the provision of recorded music, which was later withdrawn.

The report pack indicated that there were no representations from the Licensing Authority, Metropolitan Police, Noise, Health and Safety, Trading Standards, Public Health, Safeguarding Children, or the London Fire Brigade. However, there were eight representations received from local residents.

The report highlighted that the premises are located within the Bunhill Cumulative Impact Area, which means there is a presumption of refusal unless the Sub-Committee is satisfied that there will be no adverse cumulative impact on the licensing objectives.

Resident Objections and Concerns:

Multiple residents submitted objections, primarily focusing on the potential for increased noise nuisance and disturbance. Key concerns raised included:

• Airborne Noise Nuisance: Residents living in apartments overlooking the rear lightwell expressed concerns about noise from the main bar space and the toilet area being amplified within the lightwell. They suggested that an acoustic lobby for the toilet access and soundproofing for the rear lightwell area would be necessary.
• Structure-Borne Noise: Concerns were raised about noise travelling through the shared structures of the buildings, particularly low-frequency bass sounds from recorded music. Residents requested clear specifications restricting the power and frequency range of any music played.
• Cumulative Impact: Residents noted existing noise issues from other nearby establishments, such as the White Bear Pub, and feared that the proposed variation would exacerbate these problems, making the area less liveable.
• Impact on Residential Amenity: Several residents stated that the current noise levels already made it difficult to relax or sleep, and the proposed extension of hours and music would be unbearable and untenable.
• Specific Concerns: One resident noted that their flat was directly above the premises and expressed concern about the bass beat five nights a week. Another resident mentioned that their property's terrace/garden faced the rear and that the White Bear pub had become a serious nuisance in the last 18 months.

Proposed Conditions:

The report pack outlined suggested conditions for approval, consistent with the operating schedule and proposed by the Metropolitan Police and the Council's Noise Service. These included:

• Installation and maintenance of a CCTV system.
• Prominent signage regarding CCTV, Challenge 25, and respecting neighbours.
• Operation of a Challenge 25 proof of age scheme.
• Availability of non-intoxicating beverages and free tap water.
• Maintenance of an incident log to record crimes, ejections, complaints, seizures, CCTV faults, refusals of alcohol sales, and visits by authorities.
• Procedures to be followed in the event of a serious assault.
• Training for staff to prevent the admission of drunk or disorderly persons.
• A condition that noise or vibration must not emanate from the premises so as to cause a nuisance to nearby properties.
• In the event of a substantiated noise/nuisance complaint, the licensee shall take appropriate measures to prevent recurrence.

The report also noted that the property is a Grade II statutorily listed building and located within the Clerkenwell Green Conservation Area. The unit has an established lawful use as a restaurant, considered within Class E planning terms. There was no relevant planning history for the site regarding hours of operation.

The meeting was scheduled to determine the application for a variation of the premises licence under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003.