The Licensing Sub Committee of Cambridge City Council met on 15 May 2025 to consider an application for a premises licence for A Taste of Sicily. The report pack included the application form, plans for the premises, representations received, and agreed conditions from Environmental Health. The sub-committee was scheduled to determine the application on its individual merits, referencing the statutory licensing objectives and Cambridge City Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.

A Taste of Sicily - Premises Licence Application

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application from La Cucina Di Nonna Ltd for a premises licence for A Taste of Sicily, located at 106 Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge, CB1 7AJ. The application, made under section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003, seeks permission for the sale of alcohol for consumption both on and off the premises, and for recorded music indoors, from Monday to Sunday between 11:00 and 23:00, with an extension until 02:00 on New Year’s Eve.

The application was advertised in Cambridge News and on the premises, inviting representations from responsible authorities and other persons. Wangari Njiiri, Environmental Health and Licensing Support Team Leader, noted that five representations were received from 'Other Persons'¹. No representations were received from responsible authorities, although Trading Standards provided Challenge 25² information to the applicant, and Environmental Health agreed conditions with the applicant, which are attached to the report as Appendix 4 - EH agreed conditions.

The report pack notes that the premises opened as an Italian restaurant in February 2025, and was previously Sunset Lounge, a Shisha restaurant, and before that Palkee Bengali Take-Away. The report also notes that the premises is subject to extant planning conditions, and that representations had been received that made reference to ongoing planning-related matters, particularly those concerning the rear structure. However, it was noted that these details fall outside the remit of the Licensing Sub-Committee, as they do not pertain to any of the four statutory licensing objectives³.

The sub-committee was reminded that in carrying out its licensing functions, it must have regard to its Statement of Licensing Policy and the statutory guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003. The relevant sections from the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy are:

• Objectives, section 2
• Fundamental principles, section 4
• Licensing Hours, section 6
• Licence Conditions, section 8

The sub-committee was advised that it must make its decision with a view to promoting one or more of the four licensing objectives:

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

The available options open to the sub-committee were outlined as:

• grant the licence subject to the mandatory conditions and those conditions offered by the applicant which may be modified to such extent as the authority considers necessary for the promotion of the licensing objectives;
• exclude from the scope of the licence any of the licensable activities to which the application relates;
• refuse to specify a person in the licence as the premises supervisor;
• reject the application.