The Licensing Sub Committee D of Islington Council scheduled a meeting to address several premises licence applications. These included new applications for Doppio Zero and B&S Food and Wine, and a variation request for The Archway. The committee was also expected to review a previous meeting's minutes.

Premises Licence Applications

The Archway, 1 Navigator Square, N19 3TD

A report pack prepared for the Licensing Sub Committee D included a request to vary the premises licence for The Archway, located at 1 Navigator Square, N19 3TD.

The applicant, Archway Bars Ltd, sought to:

• Increase the capacity of the smoking terrace to a maximum of 60 people when the rest of the venue is not in operation.
• Amend condition 12 to allow drinks to be taken onto the terrace after 23:00 when the rest of the venue is not in operation.
• Amend condition 25b to allow one SIA¹ after 23:00 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday when only the terrace is in operation.
• Amend condition 37 to allow 30 people on the terrace from 23:00 when the whole club is in operation.

The report pack noted that the premises is within the Junction Cumulative Impact Area², requiring the committee to consider Licensing Policy 3, which presumes refusal unless it can be shown there will be no adverse cumulative impact on licensing objectives.

Representations were received from the Metropolitan Police, the Council’s Noise Service, the Licensing Authority, Environmental Health, a local ward councillor, and a local resident. Following these, the applicant consulted with responsible authorities and agreed to a number of conditions with the Council’s Noise Service. The applicant also corresponded with the local councillor, leading to the withdrawal of their representation.

The Planning & Development section commented that the building is locally listed and within the St John’s Grove Conservation Area. While the first floor has operated as a nightclub (sui generis³) for some years, a structure erected on the roof terrace between April 2021 and February 2022 does not have planning permission, and a retrospective application would be needed to retain it.

Doppio Zero, 4 Gillespie Road, N5 1LN

The Licensing Sub Committee D were scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Doppio Zero, located at 4 Gillespie Road, N5 1LN.

The application requested permission to:

• Sell alcohol for consumption on the premises on Sunday from 12:00 until 22:00, Tuesday from 17:00 until 22:00, Wednesday and Thursday from 12:00 until 22:00, Friday and Saturday from 12:00 until 22:30.
• Open Sunday from 12:00 until 21:00, Monday to Wednesday from 17:00 until 22:30, Thursday and Friday from 12:00 until 22:30 and Saturday from 12:00 until 22:00

The report pack noted a discrepancy between the requested opening hours and the hours for the sale of alcohol, requiring clarification from the applicant.

The premises was previously subject to a premises licence that lapsed in July 2018. In September 2024, Licensing Officers found the premises selling alcohol without authorisation, leading to a Section 19 closure notice. A previous premises licence application by the proposed DPS⁴, Daniel Clark, was refused on 7 January 2025 due to concerns about the applicant's limited knowledge of the licensing regime and the management structure's ability to uphold the licensing objectives.

The current application is in the name of the premises owner, Marco De Cristofaro, with Daniel Clark still proposed as the designated premises supervisor.

The application received eight representations from local residents, with two opposing and six supporting the licence. The Police and the Council’s Pollution Team reviewed the application and did not submit representations, as previously agreed conditions from the refused application in January 2025 have been incorporated within the Operating Schedule.

One representation, labelled 'Rep 2' in the report pack, claimed that:

The applicant has been using illegal means to expand his takeaway premises into a restaurant, for which he is seeking an alcohol licence. His disregard for civil and criminal law is flagrant. The diversity and extent of his non-compliance with the law is unusual in the context of an application for an alcohol licence.

The representation also claimed that the tent extension was a fire hazard, and that the applicant had been responsible for public nuisance on a number of occasions.

The Planning & Development section noted that a Certificate of Lawful Existing use was issued on 30 June 2006 for the use of the property as a fish and chip shop. They also noted that a planning enforcement notice was issued on 15 November 2024 regarding the erection of a ground floor canopy extension to the front of the property.

B&S Food and Wine, 187 Blackstock Road N5 2LL

The Licensing Sub Committee D were scheduled to consider an application for the variation of a premise licence for B&S Food and Wine, located at 187 Blackstock Road, N5 2LL.

The application requested permission to:

• Sell alcohol for consumption off the premises on Sunday-Thursday from 08:00-00:00 and Friday to Saturday from 08:00-01:00.
• Reduce opening hours to Sunday to Thursday from 08:00-00:00 and on Friday to Saturday from 08:00-01:00.

The premises currently holds a licence allowing the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises on Monday to Sunday from 08:00-23:00, with opening hours from 00:00-24:00.

The report pack noted that the premises is not located in a Cumulative Impact Area.

Representations were received from the Licensing Authority and the Metropolitan Police. The Police confirmed that the applicant, Mr Singh, accepted revised police conditions relevant to the type of business. However, Mr Singh and his agent, Mr Kapoor, confirmed that they wished the application to remain for hours outside of framework for off licences.

The Licensing Authority noted that the hours applied for are outside of the recommended policy hours for off sales of alcohol, which are from 08:00 to 23:00 each day. They also raised concerns about the applicant's understanding of licensing regulations, as they had applied for the maximum number of TENs⁵ during 2024 and attempted to apply for further TENs which were rejected.

The Licensing Authority also noted that complaints were received by the ASB⁶ Team on 23/6/24 and on 8/7/24 regarding loud noise from a refrigeration unit coming from this premises.

Formal Matters

Councillor Clare Jeapes was scheduled to chair the meeting. Councillors were expected to make introductions, declare any interests, and approve the minutes of the previous meeting.