Westminster City Council's Licensing Sub-Committee (3) met to consider an application for a new premises licence for the GoBoat kiosk at 5 Merchant Square. The applicant, W&S London Limited, sought permission to sell alcohol from the kiosk for consumption off the premises. After hearing from the applicant, residents, the Metropolitan Police, and their legal advisor, the committee agreed to defer their decision, which will be communicated to all parties within five working days.

GoBoat Licensing Application

W&S London Limited applied for a new premises licence for the GoBoat kiosk at 5 Merchant Square. The applicant initially sought permission for both on and off-site sales of alcohol, but later withdrew the request for on-site sales, agreeing to only sell alcohol in sealed containers from the kiosk to GoBoat Luxe customers. GoBoat has operated in Paddington since 2017, offering self-drive boat hire. The application was prompted by the introduction of a new premium service called GoBoat Luxe, which includes a trained skipper on board, and would allow limited alcohol consumption under supervision.

Julian Wood, representing the applicant, explained that GoBoat aims to make waterways accessible and provide unique, sustainable experiences. He stated that GoBoat has alcohol licences at other locations, but alcohol is banned on the self-drive boats in Paddington. He added that the GoBoat Luxe service is designed to address past concerns about safety and disturbance, with trained skippers responsible for navigation and monitoring alcohol consumption.

Objections and Concerns

Several objections were raised by local residents, the Metropolitan Police, and community representatives, primarily concerning public safety, noise, antisocial behaviour, and the lack of toilet facilities.

Resident Concerns

Residents expressed concerns about the potential for increased noise, antisocial behaviour, and public urination, based on their past experiences when alcohol was permitted on GoBoat rentals. Judy Head, representing local residents, described incidents of loud music, shouting, abuse, and collisions when alcohol was previously allowed on GoBoats. She raised concerns about the narrowness of the canal, the presence of the Maida Hill Tunnel, and the potential for accidents.

Sam McConnel, another resident, highlighted safety risks associated with inexperienced boaters on a busy waterway, particularly with the addition of alcohol. Nigel Hyde, a resident with a boat in Cumberland Basin, raised concerns about public urination, collisions, and aggressive behaviour from intoxicated individuals. He referenced a Canal River Trust (CRT) report that cited restricting alcohol consumption as a key measure to mitigate incidents.

Other residents, including Jessica Lowe, expressed a lack of trust in GoBoat's ability to control customer behaviour and feared a return to previous problems. John Zammat, chairman of a resident association, supported the objections, emphasising concerns about noise, conduct, and the lack of toilet provision. Susie Burbridge of the Hyde Park Estate Association (HPEA), echoed these concerns and suggested limiting boat numbers and operating hours.

Metropolitan Police Concerns

P.C. Riaz Guerra of the Metropolitan Police raised concerns about managing the potential for preloading (consuming alcohol before boarding), responsible alcohol sales, and security at the kiosk. He suggested that GoBoat skippers and kiosk staff receive training in responsible alcohol management.

Licensing Objectives

Councillor Melvyn Caplan stated his belief that the licensing objectives^[1] could not be met, citing concerns about crime and disorder, public safety, and public nuisance. He questioned how the applicant would prevent individuals from drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and manage behaviour on the boats.

Proposed Conditions and Mitigation

In response to the concerns raised, Julian Wood outlined several measures to mitigate potential problems, including:

• Qualified skippers with competency certificates and first aid training
• Skippers responsible for navigation and monitoring alcohol consumption
• A strict ban on alcohol on self-drive boats
• Limits on alcohol consumption (two cans of beer or lager per person, or one bottle of wine for two customers)
• Bag checks to prevent customers from bringing their own alcohol
• Three safety boats patrolling the canal
• Communication with other canal operators to report any issues

The council's legal advisor proposed amending condition 17 to restrict alcohol sales to GoBoat Luxe customers only, and adding a new condition requiring regular training for staff on responsible alcohol sales and the licensing objectives.

Committee Discussion

The committee discussed the enforceability of the proposed conditions, particularly regarding activities on the canal. Concerns were raised about Westminster City Council's limited jurisdiction on the waterway and the reliance on the Canal and River Trust for enforcement. Councillor Caroline Sargent questioned how the skippers would manage groups of people who might have consumed alcohol before boarding and how they would handle antisocial behaviour.

Councillor Patrick Lilley asked about the training skippers would receive and how GoBoat would prevent customers from bringing their own alcohol onto the boats. He also expressed concern that the applicant was not fully aware of the licensing objectives.

Next Steps

Councillor Robert Eagleton, Deputy Cabinet Member - Housing and chair of the meeting, summarised the discussion and stated that the committee would defer its decision. All parties will be notified of the decision within five working days.