The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a premises licence for Funicular Productions at Units 3 & 4, Crucifix Lane, London SE1 3JW, after hearing objections from local residents. The committee also considered an application for Sotto at 4 Tanner Street, London SE1 3LD, which was postponed to a later date.

Funicular Productions, Units 3 & 4, Crucifix Lane, London SE1 3JW

The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a premises licence to Funicular Productions Ltd for Units 3 & 4, Crucifix Lane, London SE1 3JW. This decision was made despite objections from local residents who raised concerns about potential noise, anti-social behaviour, and the impact on the residential character of the area.

The applicant, Funicular Productions, proposed an immersive theatrical dining experience with an ancillary bar. They stated that they were a well-established operator with a previous venue in Tower Hamlets that had operated without complaints. The proposed venue would offer a high-quality, ticketed experience with a high price point, attracting a clientele aged over 25 and predominantly female. The applicant argued that the venue would enhance the provision of arts, culture, and tourism in the area.

Residents, however, expressed significant concerns. They argued that Crucifix Lane was a predominantly residential street and that the proposed late operating hours, extending to 00:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, were inappropriate. They cited previous issues with late-night venues in the area, such as The Underdog Gallery and Jack's Club, which they claimed led to noise, litter, and anti-social behaviour. Residents also questioned whether the bar in Arch 3 was truly ancillary to the theatre in Arch 4, suggesting it was intended as a standalone late-night bar to subsidise the theatre. They argued that the area should be treated as residential, with earlier closing times, citing other venues in the vicinity that closed earlier.

The sub-committee noted that the premises were located within the Bankside, Borough, London Bridge Strategic Cultural and London Bridge District Town Centre area, which was not designated as a cumulative impact area. They also referred to the Southwark Statement of Licensing Policy (SoLP), which recommended closing hours of 00:00 on Sundays to Thursdays and 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays for premises of this type. The sub-committee found that the applicant's evidence, including an email from Tower Hamlets' Public Protection and Integrated Enforcement Division, suggested their previous venue had operated successfully, contradicting some of the residents' claims.

Ultimately, the sub-committee granted the licence with specific conditions, including:

• Last admission to the premises at 22:30.
• Restrictions on outside smoking areas, with a limit of 10 people permitted to smoke at any one time, reduced to 5 after 22:00.
• No vertical drinking at the premises.
• External waste handling, collections, and deliveries restricted to between 08:00 and 20:00.

The sub-committee also made recommendations that the premises should not use single-use plastics and should advise customers on their website about the lack of parking and encourage the use of public transport.

Sotto, 4 Tanner Street, London SE1 3LD

The application for a premises licence for Sotto, located at 4 Tanner Street, London SE1 3LD, was postponed to 18 June 2026 at the request of the applicant. This application had received representations from two responsible authorities (the Police and Trading Standards) and six other persons. The Police requested additional conditions to promote the prevention of crime and disorder, while Trading Standards sought conditions to protect children from harm. Residents living above the premises raised concerns about potential noise, vibration, and nuisance from customer congregation, deliveries, and waste disposal, arguing that the premises should be treated as residential.