Decision

In reaching its decision, the Sub-Committee considered the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy, the Licensing Act 2003, the Regulations made thereunder, and the Guidance issued by the Secretary of State under Section 182 of that Act. In discharging its functions, the Sub-Committee did so with a view to promoting the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

Having considered the application, written and oral submissions, the Licensing Sub-Committee resolved to grant a Premises Licence.

Hours of Licensable Activities shall be as follows:

• Performance of amplified Live Music, Provision of Recorded Music (both indoor and outdoors)

Monday to Sunday (daily) from 09:00 hours until 22:30 hours

• Performance of Plays &Exhibition of Films (both indoor and outdoors)

Monday to Sunday (daily) from 09:00 hours until 23:00 hours

• Indoor Sporting events, (both indoor and outdoors)

Monday to Friday from 09:00 hours until 23:00 hours.

Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 hours until 23:00 hours.

• Provision of Boxing or Wrestling entertainment, Performance of Dance (both indoor and outdoors)

Monday to Sunday from 12:00 hours until 23:00 hours

• Sale and Supply of Alcohol (On-Sales only)

Monday to Sunday (daily) from 12:00 hours until 22:30 hours

The proposed opening times are daily between 09:00 and 23:00 hours.

The licence is subject to the conditions as offered by the applicant and as agreed with the Responsible Authorities as follows:

Conditions as per application

CCTV

1. A CCTV system shall be installed, maintained and operated at the premises to cover all public areas, including all entrances and exits. The system shall be capable of capturing clear head and shoulders images of every person entering or leaving the premises. Images shall be retained for a minimum of 31 days.
2. The CCTV system shall be operational and recording at all times when the premises is open to the public. All recordings shall have accurate time and date stamping.
3. The premises licence holder shall ensure that at least one trained member of staff is on duty during operating hours who is able to provide viewable copies of CCTV footage to Police or authorised Local Authority Officers as soon as reasonably practicable, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR.

Public Nuisance

1. Clear and legible signage shall be prominently displayed at all exit points and in external areas requesting that customers respect local residents and leave the area quietly.
2. Patrons shall not be permitted to take alcohol off the premises in open containers.
3. Event tickets and the premises’ website shall include information on transport options and a request for patrons to leave the area quietly.
4. No rubbish, including bottles, shall be moved, removed or placed in outside areas between 00:00 hours and 07:00 hours.
5. The premises licence holder shall display the contact details of licensed minicab operators in a prominent position at the customer exit.

Noise Control

1. The premises licence holder shall ensure that a dedicated telephone number and email address for noise complaints is published on the premises’ website and provided to the Local Authority on request. All noise complaints shall be logged, including the date, time, complainant details (where provided), and action taken. The log shall be kept for 12 months and made available to authorised officers on request. Where an authorised officer identifies that noise from the premises is giving rise to a nuisance, the premises licence holder shall take immediate steps to reduce noise levels.

Protection of Children from Harm

1. The premises shall operate a Challenge 25 age?verification policy. Any person who appears to be under the age of 25 and attempts to purchase alcohol shall be required to produce acceptable photographic identification, including a passport, driving licence or PASS?accredited proof?of?age card.
2. Challenge 25 notices shall be prominently displayed at all points where alcohol is sold.
3. A refusals register shall be maintained at the premises recording all refusals of alcohol sales and the reasons for refusal. The register shall be checked at least monthly, with a record of each check retained. All records shall be kept for 12 months and made available to Police or authorised officers on request.

Staff Training

1. All staff authorised to sell alcohol shall receive documented training on the Licensing Act 2003, the licensing objectives, age?restricted sales and conflict management. Training shall be refreshed at least every 12 months. Training records shall be kept on the premises and made available to Police or authorised officers on request.
2. A written record of all staff authorised to sell alcohol shall be kept on the premises. The record shall include the full name and date of birth of each person so authorised and shall be made available for inspection by the Licensing Authority, Trading Standards or the Police on request.

Incident Management

1. A comprehensive incident register shall be maintained at the premises. The Designated Premises Supervisor shall ensure that details of all incidents are recorded within 24 hours. The register shall include:

a) Date

b) Time

c) Location

d) Persons involved (where known)

e) Summary of the incident

f) Details of any emergency services personnel who attended

The register shall be kept for 12 months and made available to authorised officers on request.

Security and Stewarding

1. A suitable and experienced security and stewarding company shall be appointed to ensure public safety and prevent crime and disorder. Security staff shall be clearly identifiable and wear high?visibility clothing where appropriate.
2. SIA?registered security staff and/or stewards shall be briefed to monitor and remind patrons to leave the premises and surrounding area quietly.
3. Any substantial queues inside or outside the premises shall be supervised by event staff to prevent disorder and discourage anti?social behaviour.
4. SIA security staff and/or stewards shall be trained to refuse admission to persons displaying signs of drunkenness, drug use or disorderly behaviour.
5. The premises shall participate in local police?approved information?sharing schemes, where such schemes exist.

Welfare and Safety

1. The premises shall display welfare?related signage, such as Ask for Angela or similar schemes promoting customer safety and the premises shall sign up to the Royal Borough of Greenwich Women’s Safety Charter.

Medical Provision and Event Safety

1. For any event where the expected attendance exceeds 500 persons, the premises licence holder shall ensure that a minimum of one qualified first aider is on duty at all times while the event is open to the public. For events exceeding 1,000 persons, at least two qualified first aiders shall be on duty.
2. For events where more than 1,000 attendees are expected, the premises licence holder shall ensure that a documented medical provision plan is in place specifying the number and qualification level of first?aid personnel on duty.
3. For any event involving more than 500 attendees, the premises licence holder shall produce an event?specific safety plan addressing crowd management, stewarding levels and emergency procedures. The plan shall be retained for 12 months and made available to authorised officers on request.
4. During any event open to the public, the premises licence holder shall ensure that all designated emergency exit routes are checked at least hourly to confirm they remain unobstructed and available for immediate use. A record of these checks shall be kept for 12 months and made available to authorised officers on request.

Conditions as agreed with Responsible Authorities

Definitions and Routine Capacity

1 The daily, routine capacity of the premises shall not exceed 999 persons (excluding staff).

2 A "Major Event" is defined as an event meeting one or more of the following criteria:

• Any alcohol-led or ticketed music-led event with a capacity of 1,000 or more persons (no music-led events with a capacity of 1,000 or more persons shall be unticketed). Where there is ambiguity or disagreement as to whether an event is "alcohol-led" or "music-led", the final determination shall be made by the Licensing Authority;
• Any event featuring Boxing or Wrestling matches, regardless of capacity;
• Any event with an anticipated capacity of 3,000 or more persons (up to a maximum of 4,999 persons).

Entertainment Licensing Safety Advisory Group (ELSAG) Consultation and Event Management Plans

3 For any event exceeding 1,000 persons, or any Major Event, the following notification and review process shall apply:

(a)For Major Events, the premises licence holder shall provide the Licensing Authority and the Police with at least six (6) months' prior written notice of the proposed event date. An event with less than six (6) months' notice may only proceed with the prior express written consent of the Licensing Authority, and the Metropolitan Police. For the avoidance of doubt, if any of these parties object to the reduced notification period, the event shall not take place.

(b) For events exceeding 1,000 persons that do not meet the definition of a Major Event, notice shall be provided no less than 12 weeks prior to the event.

(c) At the time of providing notice under (a) or (b), the licence holder shall request written confirmation from the Licensing Authority as to whether the event must be subject to the formal ELSAG process (either by way of a meeting or by distributing documents to members).

(d) In all cases, the licence holder must draft a comprehensive Event Management Plan (EMP) and site layout plan in accordance with the principles of the Purple Guide.

(e) Where the Licensing Authority determines that a formal ELSAG process is required, the initial draft EMP and site plan must be submitted to the ELSAG. The EMP must include, but is not limited to, detailed sub-plans covering:

• Crowd Management & Safe Capacity Control (including barrier layouts and ingress/egress calculations);
• Security, Stewarding, and Medical/First Aid Deployment Plans;
• Fire Safety and Emergency Evacuation Procedures;
• Sanitation and Hygiene Infrastructure (detailing temporary toilet provisions scaled to the capacity);
• Hospitality and transport arrangements;
• Where requested, an Event-Specific Noise Management Plan.

(f) No event shall be scheduled on a day on which Charlton Athletic FC play a home fixture without prior approval by the Licensing Authority, and Metropolitan Police.

4 Where an event has been subject to the formal ELSAG process under Condition 3(e), the definitive, final draft of the EMP and site plan (incorporating any required feedback) must be submitted to the ELSAG at least 28 days prior to the event. The event organiser shall provide written confirmation to the Licensing Authority that ELSAG feedback has been incorporated or addressed. No such event shall proceed without final written sign-off from the chair of the ELSAG (an officer of the Licensing Authority).

Event Frequency Limits and Calendars

5 (a) In the period to 31 December 2026, no more than 3 events exceeding 1,000 persons shall take place, and no event shall exceed 3,000 persons, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Licensing Authority following consultation with the Metropolitan Police and relevant responsible authorities.

(b) From 1 January 2027, no more than 10 events exceeding 1,000 persons per calendar year shall take place, of which no more than 6 events shall exceed 3,000 persons, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Licensing Authority following consultation with the Metropolitan Police and relevant responsible authorities.

6 The premises licence holder shall submit an annual calendar of all events expected to exceed 1,000 persons to the Licensing Authority, the Metropolitan Police, by 28 February each year, or no less than 12 weeks before the first such event.

7 No events exceeding 1,000 persons (or any Major Events) shall be held for more than two consecutive days (48 hours) unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Licensing Authority following consultation with the Metropolitan Police and relevant responsible authorities.

8 A post-event debrief meeting with the Metropolitan Police shall be held within 14 days following the inaugural hosting of any specific event concept, brand, or type at the premises that exceeds 1,000 persons (or constitutes a Major Event).

Transport, Dispersal, and Station Management

9 A comprehensive dispersal plan must be submitted to and approved in writing by the Licensing Authority prior to operation, to include:

(a) Realistic alignment with rail service capacity;

(b) Measures to stagger egress;

(c) Stewarding provision extending to the station and surrounding highways;

(d) Management arrangements for the post-20:00 unstaffed station environment.

10 The event organiser shall provide to the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the Licensing Authority documented consultation with the British Transport Police (BTP), Network Rail, and the relevant train operator before any event exceeding 1,000 persons (or any Major Event).

11 The Transport, Traffic, and Pedestrian Management sub-plans within the EMP must include explicit crowd safety coordination for days when Charlton Athletic FC matches occur.

Public Safety, Site Infrastructure, and Risk Assessments

12 The licence holder must submit a site-specific suitable and sufficient risk assessment produced by competent person(s) in line with legislative requirements and the Purple Guide, detailing how the uneven external terrain will be made safe. No licensable activities may take place until this assessment and the remediation measures are approved in writing by appropriate persons at the Royal Borough of Greenwich / ELSAG.

13 A venue-specific Fire Risk Assessment (FRA), including a detailed layout plan mapping fire detection, emergency warning systems, and firefighting equipment during “typical” usage, must be compiled by a competent, accredited fire safety professional. A copy of this FRA shall be retained on the premises and made immediately available for inspection by the Licensing Authority, Police, or Fire and Rescue Service upon request. This does not prevent the FRA being amended or replaced for specific and bespoke events.

Noise Management and Regulated Entertainment

14 (a) Regulated entertainment (where electronic amplification of sound is used) shall not take place at the premises until a comprehensive overarching Noise Management Plan (NMP) has been submitted to, and approved in writing by, the Environmental Health Department and ELSAG Chair (where relevant)

 (b) The overarching NMP shall be treated as a 'living document'. It may be amended by mutual written agreement between the licence holder, the Licensing Authority, and the Environmental Health Department to ensure it continues to promote the prevention of public nuisance objective.

(c) Where necessary or requested, an Event-Specific Noise Management Plan (ESNMP) may be submitted and approved in writing by the Environmental Health Department. Where an ESNMP is agreed, its specific provisions and limits shall supersede those of the overarching NMP for the duration of that particular event.

15 Unless alternative noise limits and methodologies are explicitly agreed within an approved Event-Specific NMP, the overarching NMP must specifically detail the methodology and calculations demonstrating how a noise limit targeting 10dB below the representative background noise level L90 will be achieved and maintained at the facades of the nearest noise-sensitive properties (namely, Atlas and Derrick Gardens).

16 To ensure ongoing compliance, the overarching NMP (and any Event-Specific NMP) must specify agreed proxy measurement locations closer to the premises, along with the corresponding maximum permissible sound levels at those proxy locations. These proxy limits must be defined using appropriate acoustic metrics (which must include consideration of LAeq, LCeq, and/or specific low-frequency octave bands) to ensure both broadband and bass noise are effectively controlled. Representatives of Environmental Health and the Licensing Authority shall be invited to attend any noise surveys which are being undertaken to establish or test background levels or noise limits. At least one such survey must be undertaken after June 2026. Once agreed, the premises must operate strictly in accordance with the applicable approved overarching or event-specific NMP.

17 Regulated entertainment involve amplified sound shall cease no later than 22:30 hours.

Conditions imposed by the Licensing Authority

The Licensing Sub?Committee determined that, in addition to the conditions contained within the operating schedule and those agreed with the Responsible Authorities, the following further conditions were necessary and proportionate to promote the licensing objectives.

1. Traffic Marshals

For events where the attendance exceeds 500 persons, the Premises Licence Holder shall provide an appropriate number of suitably trained traffic marshals. Traffic marshals shall be deployed at appropriate locations in the vicinity of the premises to assist with the safe movement of pedestrians and vehicles, particularly during ingress and egress. The deployment arrangements shall be proportionate to the anticipated attendance, event characteristics, and prevailing traffic conditions.

1. Initial Low?Capacity Events and Step?Up Mechanism

(a) For the first three events held under this licence, attendance shall not exceed 500 persons (excluding staff).

(b) After the completion of each of the first three events, the Premises Licence Holder shall submit a Post?Event Summary Report to the Licensing Authority within 10 working days, addressing: • crowd management and ingress/egress performance; • stewarding and security deployment; • noise management outcomes; • any incidents recorded; • any complaints received and actions taken.

(c) The premises may operate at capacities above 500 persons only after the Licensing Authority has confirmed in writing that the Post?Event Summary Reports demonstrate compliance with the licence conditions and that a higher capacity may be permitted.

(d) Any increase in capacity shall be incremental, and shall not exceed the routine capacity of 999 persons unless the event meets the definition of a Major Event and complies with all relevant conditions.

(e) This condition does not override the notification, ELSAG, or event?frequency requirements contained within Conditions 1–17 of Appendix B.

Reasons for Decision

In considering the application the Sub-Committee sought clarification with regard to the  anomalies within the application. The applicant clarified the nature of the application, including that “indoor” activities would take place inside marquees. They agreed to a stipulation as to capacity and the number of major events by way of conditions and agreed a number of additional conditions as proposed by the Responsible Authorities.

The Sub-Committee had received representations from several Responsible Authorities: the Metropolitan Police, the Licensing Authority, Environmental Health (Public Safety), and the Community Protection Team (noise). It was clear from the representations in general that there was great concern about outdoor events and all representations called for additions or amendments to the conditions should the licence be granted. It was noted that the applicant agreed conditions with the Responsible Authorities.

The Community Protection Team expressed concern that the applicant may be unable to achieve the required noise limits during music?led events and could therefore breach the Noise Management Plan. The Licensing Authority advised that any such breach would be a matter for enforcement, should the licence holder fail to comply.

The Sub?Committee also received a representation from an Other Person, a nearby licensed business. It was recognised that residents might not be able to determine where nuisance was emanating from and this might impact upon other licensed businesses. It was incumbent upon all licensed premises to uphold the licensing objectives.

After having heard from the applicant as to the intended operation of the premises, and having heard that the applicant was prepared to accept the conditions proposed by the Responsible Authorities, the Sub?Committee were minded to grant the licence. As the conditions arose from the advice of the Responsible Authorities the Sub?Committee had confidence that they were applicable, but understood that they could only work if the licence holder applied them diligently.

Additional Reasons for Conditions Imposed by the Licensing Authority

The Sub?Committee considered that further conditions were required to ensure the orderly and safe operation of the premises, particularly during the initial period of operation and during events attracting larger crowds.

The Sub-Committee considered that a requirement for traffic marshals was necessary to promote the public safety objective. The premises is located on an industrial estate where the surrounding road layout was not designed to accommodate large volumes of pedestrian traffic, particularly during ingress and egress at events of up to 4,999 persons. The Sub-Committee was satisfied that the deployment of trained traffic marshals for events exceeding 500 persons was a proportionate measure to mitigate the risk of conflict between pedestrians and vehicles, and that the requirement for deployment to be proportionate to the anticipated attendance and prevailing conditions ensured the condition would be neither excessive for smaller events nor insufficient for larger ones.

The Sub-Committee noted that the applicant indicated at the hearing that it intended to commence operations at a lower capacity and increase incrementally as operational experience was gained. The Sub-Committee determined that this should be formalised as a condition to ensure it was enforceable, rather than relying on a voluntary undertaking. The Sub-Committee was mindful that the premises represents a novel use of an industrial site for large-scale events, and that the effectiveness of the event management arrangements could not be fully assessed in advance. The step-up mechanism ensures that the Licensing Authority can evaluate operational performance, including crowd management, stewarding, noise management, and incident handling, on the basis of actual experience before larger capacities are permitted. The Sub-Committee was satisfied that this approach promotes the public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and prevention of crime and disorder objectives. The Sub-Committee noted that this condition does not override the notification, ELSAG, or event frequency requirements contained within the conditions agreed with the Responsible Authorities.

Right of Appeal

If the applicant or those making representations are aggrieved by the Council’s decision, they have the right to appeal to the Magistrates’ Court. Such an appeal must be submitted to the Magistrates’ Court within 21 days from the date of written notification of this decision.