This meeting was scheduled to discuss an application for a new premises licence at 83 Rivington Street in Hoxton East and Shoreditch. The applicant, Chestnut Gardens Entertainment Limited, was seeking permission for the sale of alcohol, late night refreshment, and regulated entertainment. The application had received 118 objections from local residents and a representation from the Metropolitan Police.

Application for a Premises Licence: The Arches, 83 Rivington Street London EC2A 3AY

This item was included in the meeting because an application for a new premises licence at 83 Rivington Street, called The Arches, was submitted to Hackney Council. The applicant requested the following:

• Permission to sell alcohol for consumption on and off the premises from 11:00 to 01:00 Monday to Thursday, 11:00 to 03:00 Friday and Saturday and 12:00 to 00:00 on Sundays.
• Permission to provide late night refreshment from 23:00 to 01:00 Monday to Thursday, 23:00 to 03:00 Friday and Saturday and 23:00 to 00:00 on Sundays.
• Permission to provide regulated entertainment in the form of films, live music, recorded music, performances of dance, and anything of a similar description from 11:00 to 01:00 Monday to Thursday, 11:00 to 03:00 Friday and Saturday and 12:00 to 00:00 on Sundays.
• Permission for the premises to be open to the public from 11:00 to 01:30 Monday to Thursday, 11:00 to 03:30 Friday and Saturday and 12:00 to 00:30 on Sundays.

There are also a number of non-standard timings requested, including later opening on bank holidays and an additional hour on the day when British Summer Time commences.

The applicant stated that the premises will be a licensed premises.

The applicant submitted an operating schedule that proposed a number of measures to promote the licensing objectives, which could be converted into licence conditions, including:

• A comprehensive CCTV system.
• Employing SIA-registered door staff.
• Implementing a Challenge 25 policy.
• Keeping an incident log.
• Providing staff training on the sale of alcohol, welfare and vulnerability, and the four licensing objectives.
• Keeping windows and doors closed during regulated entertainment.
• Installing a sound limiting device.
• Requesting patrons to leave quietly.
• Providing a contact number for senior management.
• Maintaining a smoking area.
• Maintaining the area outside the premises.

Representations from Responsible Authorities

The Metropolitan Police made a representation objecting to the application on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the prevention of public nuisance.

Police make the following representations in relation to the application for a Premises Licence at The Arches, 83 Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3AY for the following reason(s);

   1.

This application seeks the Sale of Alcohol and regulated entertainment (films, both live and recorded music, performance of dance and anything similar) from 1100-0100hrs Monday – Thursday, 1100-0300hrs Friday and Saturday and from 1200-0000hrs on a Sunday. Also included is the provision of Late Night Refreshment from 2300 hours until 0100hrs/0300hrs/0000hrs respectively.

Police make these representations under the Prevention of Crime and Disorder and Public Safety Licensing Objectives. The venue is situated on a busy stretch of road in Shoreditch, an area that is saturated with night time venues. The vast number of premises have a negative cumulative impact on the area and in particular on the local residents, who throughout two previous reviews and a licence application for this venue, have vocalised the extent this impacts on them. In their own Licensing policy the Council recognises that in such areas where the number, type and density of premises selling alcohol are high or exceptional, serious problems of nuisance and disorder may be arising or have begun to arise outside or some distance from the licensed premises. It is these issues that have consistently impacted the lives of the residents.

The Police stated that:

• The premises are situated in an area with a high number of licensed premises.
• There is a history of crime and disorder associated with the premises, and that previous operators have failed to manage the venue effectively.
• Crime has fallen in the area since the previous closure of the venue.

The Police attached a number of documents to their representation, including:

• Crime reports.
• Review documentation.
• Hackney Council's Statement of Licensing Policy.

The Licensing Authority also made a representation objecting to the application on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the prevention of public nuisance.

Given the two previous revocations of the premises licence, one following the consent order, the Licensing Authority have concerns about the applicant's ability to manage this particular premises effectively. Whilst we are aware of the applicant operating other premises in the area, history has shown that they have struggled to manage this premises which has led to two revocations of the premises licence.

The Licensing Authority noted that:

• There is a history of problems at the premises, including two previous revocations of the premises licence.
• The premises are located in an area with a high density of licensed premises.
• There are concerns about the applicant's ability to manage the premises effectively.

The Licensing Authority attached a number of documents to their representation, including:

• Revised Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 - December 2023.
• Statement of Licensing Policy 2023.
• Hackney Council Cumulative Impact Research Review 2023.

Representations from Other Persons

118 representations were received from local residents, objecting to the application on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

A number of themes were common to these representations, including:

• The premises are located in a residential area.
• The applicant has a history of problems at the premises.
• The proposed operating hours are too late.
• The venue will attract large crowds, leading to noise and anti-social behaviour.
• The applicant cannot be trusted to comply with the licensing objectives.

Officer Observations

The Licensing Officer noted that the applicant had agreed to amend one of the proposed conditions following discussions with the Environmental Protection service. The Officer also proposed a number of additional conditions, including:

• That the terminal hour for entry to the premises be 2am.
• That no patrons be allowed to smoke outside the front of the premises.

Decision Making

The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider two options:

1. That the application be refused.
2. That the application be approved, together with any conditions or restrictions that members consider necessary for the promotion of the licensing objectives.

It is important to note that the report pack only includes what was scheduled to be discussed in the meeting. It does not tell us anything about what was actually discussed, or whether any decisions were made.