This Licensing Sub-Committee meeting was scheduled to consider two applications for new premises licences. One was for a JD Wetherspoon pub, and the other for a multi-purpose arts venue.

Licensing Act 2003: The Sun Wharf, 50 London Bridge Station, Tooley Street, London SE1 2TF

JD Wetherspoon PLC applied for a premises licence for a pub to be called The Sun Wharf.

The pub is to occupy units LES-03 and SU-80, formerly part of the London Dungeon, and is located in the Borough and Bankside Cumulative Impact Area.

The application requested the following hours:

• Sale of Alcohol (on and off sales):
  • Monday-Saturday: 08:00-00:00
  • Sunday: 08:00-23:00
• Late Night Refreshment (Indoors):
  • Monday-Saturday: 23:00-00:00
• Opening Hours:
  • Monday-Saturday: 06:30-00:30
  • Sunday: 06:30-23:30

The Metropolitan Police submitted a representation objecting to the application on the grounds that the premises was in a Cumulative Impact Area and there were concerns regarding the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises. They stated that:

“The likely hood of off sales being taken home from the premises is remote and realistically they would be consumed in the nearby streets, on public transport or its hubs.”

The Police also stated that they felt the application lacked sufficient control measures to address crime and disorder.

Southwark Council’s Licensing team also objected to the application on the grounds that the premises is in a Cumulative Impact Area. They requested that, should the licence be granted, a raft of additional conditions be added.

A further representation was submitted by Vivat Bacchus, a restaurant located at 4-6 Hay Lane. The Licensing Sub-Committee were reminded that they cannot take into account business competition when considering applications.

Licensing Act 2003: Cheeks, Railway Arch 3, Almond Road, London SE16 3LR

South London Arts Group Ltd applied for a new premises licence for a multi-purpose arts venue at Railway Arch 3, Almond Road, to be called Cheeks. The venue is described in the application as:

“A through arch with access at either end. There is a gated yard at one end. It is situated below multiple trainlines, within a network of arches. The arch is currently empty, the only constructed features are WC and water point at the Almond road entrance. Roller shutters are fitted at both entrances. Both shutters have doors. Our proposed fit out will include widening exit doors at both ends to a minimum 1.1m clear width.”

The application requested permission for the following licensable activities:

• Plays (indoors)
• Films (indoors)
• Live Music (indoors)
• Recorded Music (indoors)
• Performance of Dance (indoors)
• Late Night Refreshment (indoors)
• Sale of Alcohol (on the premises)

The application proposed that weekend operating hours would apply to all public and bank holidays. The hours requested in the application were:

• Monday-Friday: 11:00-03:00 the following day
• Saturday-Sunday: 00:00-00:00

Southwark Council’s Trading Standards team submitted a representation requesting that four conditions be added to the licence to promote the protection of children from harm licensing objective. These conditions included the adoption of a Challenge 25 scheme, the keeping of a refusals register and the training of staff.

The Metropolitan Police objected to the granting of the licence on the grounds that the hours requested far exceeded those recommended in Southwark’s Statement of Licensing Policy, and they felt that the control measures offered by the applicant would not sufficiently mitigate the risks. They stated that:

“It would appear the venue wishes to operate without constraint and could operate as 24hour night club.”

They also noted that:

“The applicant has not outlined within their application how they would effectively mitigate these potential problems.”

Southwark Council’s Licensing team also objected to the application, stating that they felt the proposed operating hours would negatively impact all four of the licensing objectives. The licensing team recommended that the operating hours be brought in line with the hours recommended in the Southwark Statement of Licensing Policy and proposed a suite of 41 additional conditions.

Southwark Council’s Environmental Protection Team submitted a representation objecting to the application on the grounds that the proposed hours were excessive and would negatively impact the prevention of public nuisance licensing objective. They noted that the premises backs onto a care home for vulnerable people with alcohol dependencies. They also expressed concerns about the impact of noise and the use of the external areas of the premises.

The Environmental Protection Team stated that they would withdraw their objection if:

“Operating hours are cut to match those in the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy…. The proposal for an outside area on Raymouth Road is abandoned and the smoking area is instead located to the western side within the industrial estate”

They also recommended the addition of eight conditions to the licence relating to the prevention of noise nuisance.