The Licensing Sub-Committee D met and granted a licence variation to Someday¹ at 2 City North Place with conditions, including a graduated start to the new operating hours.

Someday, 2 City North Place

The application to vary the licence of Someday was granted.

The application sought to:

• Extend the hours for the sale of alcohol, the exhibition of film, indoor sports, live music, recorded music and dancing to:
  • Mondays to Wednesdays from 11:00 to 00:00.
  • Thursdays from 11:00 to 01:00.
  • Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 to 02:00.
  • Sundays from 11:00 to 23:00.
• Extend the provision of late night refreshment to:
  • Mondays to Wednesdays from 23:00 to 00:00.
  • Thursdays from 23:00 to 01:00.
  • Fridays and Saturdays from 23:00 to 02:00.
• Allow the premises to be open to the public during the following hours:
  • Mondays to Wednesdays from 07:00 to 00:30.
  • Thursday from 07:00 to 01:30.
  • Fridays and Saturdays from 07:00 to 02:30.
  • Sunday from 07:00 to 23:30.
• Make special provision for New Year’s Eve and the Sundays preceding bank holidays, allowing the premises to remain open until 02:00.
• Remove duplicate licence conditions.
• Consolidate a number of conditions relating to the provision of SIA-registered door supervisors.

The application attracted sixteen objections from local residents, none of whom attended the meeting. The Metropolitan Police raised no objections and confirmed that the venue had been subject to an undercover observation operation.

In their submission to the committee, the applicant's legal representative, Peter Conisbee, highlighted that:

• Someday would operate an 'exit only' policy after 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
• The venue was already closing at 22:00, despite its licence allowing it to trade until 23:30.
• Only smoking was permitted in the venue's outdoor area, which had a capacity of fifteen people.
• Someday was a food-led venue. Its tables were fixed to the floor. No takeaway food was available.
• Substantial acoustic works had been completed at the venue.
• The applicant enjoyed a good relationship with local residents and had received no complaints relating to crime and disorder, public nuisance, or public safety.

In response to questions from the committee, Mr Conisbee confirmed that:

• Food would be available until closing time at Someday.
• The venue would not operate as a nightclub. Vertical drinking would be discouraged. No space would be provided for dancing.
• Live music performances at the venue would be infrequent and low-impact.
• Someday did not aim to attract football supporters on match days.
• Someday operated a dispersal policy, which was currently under review. The venue's main entrance would be closed at 22:00. CCTV was in operation at the venue. The number of SIA-registered door supervisors deployed at the venue was kept to a minimum, informed by regular risk assessments.
• Someday had a zero-tolerance policy on drug use, enforced by well-trained staff and experienced managers.
• The applicant believed that resident complaints about noise from barrels being moved in the early hours of the morning related to another business in the area.

In summing up, Mr Conisbee stated that the venue would represent 'a very different offering for people in the local community'.

In their decision, the committee noted that:

• The extended hours sought by the applicant would normally be associated with nightclubs.
• The applicant had demonstrated high standards of management.
• The applicant had, through a combination of measures, successfully demonstrated that the venue would not add to the cumulative impact on the licensing objectives already felt in the area.

The committee granted the application, subject to a number of conditions. These included:

• A graduated start to the new operating hours, with a 02:00 closing time coming into effect in October 2024.
• Food being available until closing time.
• An updated dispersal policy being provided to the Licensing Team within 28 days.