The Licensing Sub Committee A scheduled a meeting to take place on 24 April 2025, to discuss several licensing applications. Councillor Heather Staff was scheduled to chair the meeting. The committee was expected to review new premises applications for Doppio Zero, Sweety Cooky, and The National Youth Theatre, as well as a premises licence variation for the Archway Tavern.

The National Youth Theatre, 443-445 Holloway Road, N7 6LW

The committee was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, located at 443-445 Holloway Road. The application sought permission for:

• The sale of alcohol on the premises from 11:00 to 00:00, Mondays to Sundays.
• Late Night Refreshment from 23:00 to 00:00, Mondays to Sundays.
• Plays, films, live music, recorded music, performance of dance, Mondays to Sundays, from 11:00 to 00:00.
• Opening hours from 09:00 to 00:30, Mondays to Sundays.

The report pack noted that representations had been received from local residents, the Metropolitan Police, and the Council’s Noise Service. The applicant had agreed to conditions with the Noise Service and the police, leading to the withdrawal of their representations. The applicant also sent a letter to the residents to address their concerns, including a copy of the operating schedule, dispersal and management policy, and the operational management plan.

The Planning & Development Section noted that the property is within the Mercers Road/Tavistock Terrace Conservation Area. Planning permission was granted in 2001 for the change of use of the property to non-residential education use, which is now class F¹.

Sweety Cooky, 177 Junction Road, N19 5QA

The committee was scheduled to review a new premises licence application for Sweety Cooky Ltd, located at 177 Junction Road, N19 5QA. The applicant had amended the application to remove off sales.

Representations were received from local residents, the Better Archway Forum, the Metropolitan Police, and the Council’s Noise Service. The applicant agreed to conditions with the Noise Service and the police, resulting in the withdrawal of their representations. The applicant also sent a letter to the representors to address their concerns, leading to the withdrawal of the Better Archway Forum's representation. However, one objector maintained their representation.

The Planning & Development section noted that the property is within the St Johns Grove conservation area. A planning application for retrospective permission for the change of use of the premises from a tattoo studio to a café/bakery and restaurant with external tables and chairs was under consideration. A previous planning application included a condition that the premises should not operate outside the hours of:

11:00 to 19:00 Mondays to Saturdays 11:00 to 16:00 Sundays and Bank Holidays.

Archway Tavern, Ground Floor, 1 Navigator Square, N19 3TD

The committee was scheduled to consider a premises licence variation for the Archway Tavern, located at 1 Navigator Square, N19 3TD. The variation application sought to permit the Ground floor Live Room only for prebooked private events, with extended hours for the sale of alcohol, late night refreshment, and regulated entertainment until 4am on Thursdays to Saturdays and 2am on Sundays.

Representations were received from three local residents and the Metropolitan Police. The applicant responded to the representors to address their concerns. The applicant also agreed to incorporate the police recommendations into the operating schedule, leading to the withdrawal of the police representation.

The Planning & Development section noted that the building is locally listed and within the St Johns Grove Conservation Area. Historical records confirm the use of the ground floor as a public house for some years, remaining as Class E².

Doppio Zero, Ground Floor Cafe, 4 Gillespie Road, N5 1LN

The committee was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Doppio Zero, Ground Floor Cafe, located at 4 Gillespie Road, N5 1LN.

The report pack noted that Licensing Officers visited the premises on 13 September 2024, and found the premises selling alcohol without authorisation. A closure notice was served, and the sale of alcohol at the venue then ceased. A previous premises licence application by the proposed designated premises supervisor, Daniel Clark, was refused in January 2025, due to concerns about the applicant's limited knowledge of the licensing regime and the proposed management structure.

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 applicant had applied for temporary event notices to cover the period October and early November and have used their full allocation of 21 days during this period. Since the application was refused the applicant has applied for a further seven sets of temporary event notices to cover Fridays to Sundays. The full allocation for 2025 has now been used.

The application received eight representations from local residents, with two opposing or partially opposing the grant of the licence and six in support. The Licensing Sub-Committee had previously heard the item on 1 April 2025, and decided to adjourn the application to seek clarification on several points, including the lack of a customer toilet at the venue. The applicant confirmed that builders were removing the tent on the forecourt on 13 April 2025, and were building a corridor access point so customers could use the toilet at the premises.

One representation against the application stated 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 owner of the premises did not meet the Management Standards of Islington Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and could not meet the requirements of Islington Council’s Licensee’s Charter.