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Licensing Sub Committee - Thursday, 10th April, 2025 2.00 p.m.

April 10, 2025 View on council website
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Summary

The Licensing Sub Committee met to consider a new premise licence for House Music and Entertainment, 20 Commercial Street and an application for a variation of a premises licence for The Sun Tavern, 441 Bethnal Green Road. The committee extended the decision deadline for several applications, including the one for House of Music.

New Premise Licence for House Music and Entertainment

The Sub Committee agreed to extend the decision deadline for the application for a new premise licence for House Music and Entertainment, 20 Commercial Street Ground Floor London, E1 6LP, to 30 April 2025.

House of Music Entertainment Ltd is applying for a new premise licence for 20 Commercial Street Ground Floor, E1 6LP. The applicant describes the premises as a co-working space by day and an events space by night, operating as a members-only club with a strict application process.

A previous application for a new premises licence was refused by the licensing sub-committee on 23 July 2024, after receiving objections from the Environmental Protection Team and the Licensing Authority.

This new application did not receive objections from any of the Responsible Authorities1. However, a representation was received from a local resident, Abdul High.

The applicant is seeking the following hours:

  • Sale of Alcohol (On sales)
    • Monday to Saturday from 17:00 hours to 23:00 hours
    • Sunday from 17:00 hours to 22:00 hours
  • Opening times
    • Monday to Saturday 07:00 from 23:30 hours
    • Sunday from 07:00 hours to 22:30 hours

The applicant has offered the following measures in the operating schedule to address the promotion of the Licensing Objectives:

  1. An incident log shall be kept at the premises, and be available on request to the Police or an authorised officer.
  2. A record shall be kept detailing all refused sales of alcohol.
  3. All staff members should be checked to ensure they have the right to work in the UK.
  4. Customers shall only consume alcohol which has been purchased from the premises.
  5. The premises shall maintain a comprehensive CCTV system recording both inside and outside the premises.
  6. A staff member from the premises who is conversant with the operation of the CCTV system shall be in the premises at all times when the premises is open.
  7. Subject to Data Protection guidance and legislation, the management of the premises will ensure that key staff are fully trained in the operation of the CCTV
  8. Any CCTV breakdown or system failure will be notified to the Police and Local Authority immediately & remedied as soon as practicable.
  9. Notices shall be prominently displayed within the premises stating that CCTV is in operation.
  10. All alcohol products sold at the premises shall have the relevant UK duty paid label attached.
  11. No person shall be allowed to leave the premises whilst in the possession of any drinking vessel or open glass bottle, whether empty or containing any beverage.
  12. The premises shall operate a zero-tolerance policy to the supply and use of drugs
  13. Anyone who appears to be drunk or intoxicated shall not be allowed entry to the premises and those who have gained entry will be escorted from the building immediately.
  14. Entrance to the premises for an event will be by invite only.
  15. The planned events as listed are to run for approx 5 hours, of which 4 hours will be the event, as above, with 1 hour set aside for a networking opportunity for the invited guests.
  16. No alcohol will be available during the actual event.
  17. All of the events will be hosted by House of Music and Entertainment Ltd.
  18. Outside of events, no alcohol will be available to purchase on the premises at any time.
  19. The capacity for the events will be a maximum of 80.
  20. All persons attending the events will be seated.
  21. There will be no vertical drinking permitted on site at any time.
  22. The quantity of drinks made available per event will be based on the booked numbers attending and will be based on two alcoholic, and two soft drinks per person.
  23. All sales of alcohol will be ancillary to the main purpose of the event being hosted.

In a supplemental agenda, it was noted that Stewart Gibson, Licence Agent, had sent two emails to Abdul High in an effort to resolve his representation in advance of the hearing. In the emails, Stewart Gibson pointed out that there was no application for regulated entertainment, and that the only request was for the retail of alcohol for consumption on the premises. He also highlighted the key points of the application, including that House of Music and Entertainment will operate as a co-working space by day and events space by night, and that it is a members-only club with a strict application process.

Variation of a Premises Licence for The Sun Tavern

The Sub Committee considered an application for a variation of a premises licence for The Sun Tavern, 441 Bethnal Green Road, London E2 0AN, but no decision was made.

Andrew Kerr, the applicant, is seeking to extend the hours for the sale of alcohol, recorded music, and late-night refreshment until 01:00 hours on Wednesday and Sunday. The current licence allows these activities until midnight on those days. All other hours are to remain as per the current licence.

Several local residents submitted representations against the application, including T. Foo, G. Grosvenor, M. Higson, W. Le, N. Newman, and J. Teoh. They raised concerns that the applicant had not adequately explained how they would meet the licensing objectives2, specifically:

  • the prevention of crime and disorder
  • public safety
  • the prevention of public nuisance
  • the protection of children from harm

The applicant has not offered additional conditions but stated that a cab office is next door and transport links 2 minute walk away and will advise their customers to use these facilities.

The Police requested that permanent staff and security staff undertake welfare and vulnerability engagement (WAVE) training as soon as practicable, and that a record be kept of the training.


  1. Responsible Authorities are official bodies that must be notified of any application for a new premises licence or for a variation of an existing licence. They include the police, fire authority, environmental health authority, and child protection authority. 

  2. The Licensing Act 2003 outlines four key licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm. These objectives guide licensing decisions made by local authorities. 

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor Shahaveer Shubo Hussain
Councillor Shahaveer Shubo Hussain  Labour Party •  Bromley South
Profile image for Councillor Leelu Ahmed
Councillor Leelu Ahmed  Labour Party •  Mile End
Profile image for Councillor Ahmodur Khan
Councillor Ahmodur Khan  Scrutiny Lead for Resources •  Aspire •  Blackwall & Cubitt Town
1 Vacancy
Simmi Yesmin