The Licensing Sub-Committee (3) of Westminster Council met on Thursday 23 April 2026 to consider three licensing applications. The committee granted a variation to the premises licence for The Lexington, allowing for extended hours and changes to the layout, and granted a new premises licence for Wetherspoons on Shaftesbury Avenue with amended hours and conditions. The application for Kozzee at 193 Wardour Street was adjourned for further consultation.

The Lexington, 34 Lexington Street, London

The committee granted a variation to the premises licence for The Lexington, located at 34 Lexington Street, London. The variation allows for an increase in terminal hours for licensable activities, including late-night refreshment, changes to conditions, and alterations to the layout of the ground and basement floors. The applicant, Lexington Street Limited, proposed these changes to improve the premises and bring it up to current British standards.

Representations were initially received from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), the Licensing Authority (LA), the Soho Society, and one interested party. However, following mediation and agreement on conditions, the MPS, LA, and Soho Society withdrew their objections. The interested party, who resides nearby, did not attend the hearing.

The committee noted that The Lexington is situated within the West End Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ), which normally carries a presumption to refuse applications that could increase cumulative impact. However, the committee found that the proposed changes, including a modest extension of hours (between 30 minutes and one hour), the conversion to a private members' club model, and the absence of objections from responsible authorities, constituted exceptional circumstances. The committee was confident that the variation would not adversely affect the licensing objectives or add to the cumulative impact in the area.

The granted variation includes:

• Amendments to the layout of the ground and basement floors.
• Extended hours for Late Night Refreshment and the Sale of Alcohol, with opening hours adjusted accordingly.
• The deletion of existing conditions 42 and 43, which restricted the premises' operation to selling whisky and Scottish products.
• Amendments to conditions 21, 36, 37, and 38, relating to capacity, alcohol consumption in the basement, and seating arrangements.
• The addition of new conditions establishing the premises as a private members' club, with specific rules for membership, guest admissions, and the maintenance of member and guest records.

Wetherspoons, Unit 30A Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7DH

A new premises licence was granted to J D Wetherspoon Plc for their establishment at Unit 30A Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 7DH. The premises will operate as a traditional public house with no music or regulated entertainment, and will offer a full food menu.

Representations were received from the Licensing Authority (LA), the Environmental Health Department (EHS), and one interested party. Following an agreement on conditions, the LA and EHS withdrew their objections. The interested party, who raised concerns about potential public nuisance, crime and disorder, and public safety due to the premises' location and proximity to other licensed venues, did not attend the hearing.

The committee noted that the existing premises licence for the site, previously operated as Coyote Ugly, permitted licensable activities until 3:00 am. The new application for Wetherspoons sought reduced hours, ending at midnight, and included a comprehensive set of conditions. The committee found that the proposed operation, with its reduced hours, robust conditions, and the surrender of the existing licence, presented genuinely exceptional circumstances that justified departing from the Council's Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP1).

The granted licence includes:

• Late Night Refreshment (Indoors) from Monday to Sunday, 11:00 pm to midnight.
• Sale of Alcohol (On Sales) from Monday to Sunday, 8:00 am to midnight.
• Opening hours from Monday to Sunday, 7:00 am to midnight.
• A range of conditions consistent with the operating schedule, including CCTV requirements, incident reporting, noise and odour controls, waste management, and a Challenge 25 proof of age scheme.
• Mandatory conditions under the Licensing Act 2003.

Kozzee, 193 Wardour Street, London, W1F 8ZF

The committee agreed to the applicant's request to adjourn the application for a variation of the premises licence for Kozzee, located at 193 Wardour Street, London, W1F 8ZF. This adjournment was granted to allow for further consultation between the parties involved.