The Licensing Sub-Committee of Southwark Council was scheduled to consider two applications for premises licences under the Licensing Act 2003. These applications were for Shrimp and Wings at 127 Queens Road and Flavr Street Food & Bar at Arch 37, America Street. The meeting agenda also included standard procedural items.

Licensing Act 2003: Shrimp and Wings, 127 Queens Road, London SE15 2ND

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence for Shrimp and Wings located at 127 Queens Road, London SE15 2ND. The application, submitted by Shrimp and Wings Ltd, sought to allow for the sale of alcohol, provision of regulated entertainment including films, live music, and recorded music, and late-night refreshment. The proposed operating hours extended until midnight daily, with alcohol sales also permitted until midnight.

The report pack indicated that initial representations were made by Trading Standards and the Metropolitan Police Service. However, both of these responsible authorities had withdrawn their objections after the applicant agreed to incorporate recommended conditions into their operating schedule. These conditions aimed to promote the licensing objectives, particularly the protection of children from harm and the prevention of crime and disorder.

Despite the withdrawal of representations from responsible authorities, five further representations from other persons remained outstanding. These objections primarily concerned the potential for public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder, citing concerns about noise and anti-social behaviour due to the premises' late operating hours and proximity to residential properties. The report also noted that the premises did not fall within a cumulative impact area (CIA) but was situated in the Peckham major town centre. The council's Statement of Licensing Policy 2021-2026 was referenced, outlining recommended operating hours for different types of premises within town centres.

Licensing Act 2003: Flavr Street Food & Bar, Arch 37, America Street, London SE1 0NJ

The sub-committee was also scheduled to review an application for a premises licence for Flavr Street Food & Bar at Arch 37, America Street, London SE1 0NJ. America Street LTD applied for a licence that would permit recorded music, entertainment similar to live or recorded music, late-night refreshment, and the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises. The initial proposed operating hours extended until 1:00 AM on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with alcohol sales and late-night refreshment also permitted until this time.

This application had attracted representations from a responsible authority (the Metropolitan Police Service) and the council's environmental protection team, as well as seventeen representations from local residents. The Metropolitan Police's concerns related to the proposed hours exceeding those recommended in the council's Statement of Licensing Policy and the premises being located within a cumulative impact area (CIA). They suggested additional conditions to promote licensing objectives. The environmental protection team raised concerns about public nuisance, disputing the applicant's claim of minimal residential property nearby and highlighting potential issues with noise from DJ-led events and cooking odours.

The report indicated that the applicant had agreed to conditions proposed by Trading Standards and the Metropolitan Police, leading to the withdrawal of their representations. However, the representations from the environmental protection team and the other persons (local residents) remained outstanding. These resident objections frequently cited concerns about noise, anti-social behaviour, the impact on residential amenity, and the premises' proximity to homes. Many objectors also referenced previous planning permission conditions that restricted operating hours to 11:00 PM. The premises is located within the Bankside & Borough strategic cultural area and the Borough & Bankside CIA.

The report also detailed the licence history of similar applications for adjacent arches in America Street, which were refused in November 2024 due to a lack of detail regarding premises type, appropriate conditions, and inadequate consideration of cumulative impact and residents' concerns. The current application aimed to provide more detail on the intended operation.