The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a new premises licence for The River Garden, Rammey Marsh Lock House, Lea Road, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross, EN9 1AL. The decision was made after considering objections from local residents regarding noise disturbance and the applicant's assurances of improved management and adherence to licensing objectives.

The River Garden Premises Licence Application

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application for a new premises licence for The River Garden, located at Rammey Marsh Lock House, Lea Road, Waltham Abbey, Waltham Cross, EN9 1AL. The application sought opening hours from Sunday to Thursday, 09:30 to 23:00, and on Fridays and Saturdays, 09:30 to 01:00. The sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises was requested from 11:00 to 22:30 from Sunday to Thursday, and 11:00 to 00:30 on Fridays and Saturdays. Late-night refreshment was sought on Fridays and Saturdays from 23:00 to 01:00.

Esther Hughes, Head of Consumer Protection & Waste Enforcement, introduced the application, noting that Nicolas Nicolaou was the proposed Premises Licence Holder and Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). She explained that under the Licensing Act 2003, premises licensed for on-sales of alcohol are automatically entitled to host regulated entertainment between 08:00 and 23:00, both indoors and outdoors. Conditions restricting entertainment could not be applied at the grant stage but could be addressed during a licence review if issues arose.

Seven local residents submitted objections, primarily citing concerns about significant noise disturbance from loud amplified music, often played outdoors and extending late into the evenings across multiple days. These disturbances were reported to impact residents' health, wellbeing, family life, and children. Concerns were also raised about noise from patrons arriving and leaving late at night, including shouting and vehicle activity, with fears that a licence would exacerbate these issues. It was noted that these events had previously occurred without a licence or Temporary Event Notice (TEN).

Ziya Merton, representing the applicant, stated that the requested hours were not unusual for comparable premises and were supported by the applicant's commitment to responsible operation and appropriate controls. He emphasised that many of the objectors' concerns related to past issues under previous management, and that the applicant, Nicolas Nicolaou, had since assumed direct control of the premises. Mr. Nicolaou expressed genuine regret for the past experiences of residents and had implemented significant changes to management and operations.

Mr. Merton clarified that the premises would operate as a food-led business, not a late-night entertainment venue. He stated that all live and recorded music would take place indoors, concluding by 23:00, after which only low-level background music would be played on Fridays and Saturdays. For special events outside of normal operations, the applicant would apply for a TEN. He highlighted that a TEN was in place for Saturday, 31 January 2026, during which noise monitoring was conducted, showing external noise levels between 39 and 53 decibels and internal readings of 78 to 84 decibels, demonstrating that noise could be controlled under the applicant's management. Mr. Nicolaou also offered to provide two direct contact numbers for management and staff to address any issues in real-time and questioned the evidential value of video footage submitted by objectors, suggesting it was unclear and difficult to verify the source of the noise.

Objectors, represented by OP7, reiterated their concerns, questioning the applicant's claim of believing the premises operated under an existing licence and his assertion of concern for neighbours, given previous direct communications had not led to improvements. They expressed disappointment with the applicant's response to their video evidence, which they felt was the only way to demonstrate the disturbance they experienced. They also highlighted that the applicant had not visited their homes to witness the impact of the noise firsthand.

Councillor Jim Steven enquired about the duration of the premises' operation and why music had been played beyond permitted times previously. Mr. Nicolaou responded that the premises had been operating for approximately two years, with the first year focused on development, and he would be managing the premises full-time upon reopening in April, ensuring music would not be played beyond permitted hours. He acknowledged that previous issues stemmed from music played outside of permitted hours and expressed a willingness to improve communication with residents, potentially through a group chat, and invited residents to visit the premises to discuss concerns.

Following deliberation, the Licensing Sub-Committee resolved to grant the application in full, subject to conditions outlined in Annex 3 of the Licensing Sub-Committee Report. The Chair stated that the committee had considered the licensing objectives and Enfield Council's Licensing Policy. While acknowledging the objections from residents concerning the prevention of public nuisance and protection of children from harm, the committee noted that the Police and Licensing Authority had withdrawn their objections following the agreement of conditions with the applicant. The committee found confidence in the applicant's recent use of TENs and the successful noise management during those events, suggesting an opportunity for the applicant to demonstrate satisfactory management in the future. The granted hours were deemed comparable to other licences issued by Enfield Council. The committee strongly encouraged open communication between the applicant and residents to address any future issues, reminding objectors of the licence review process should problems arise.