Decision

Notification of decision following a Licensing Sub-Committee hearing to determine an application for the grant of a Premises Licence under section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003

PREMISES:   Grasshoppers RFC, Syon Lane, Isleworth, TW7 5PN (“the Premises”)

APPLICANT:  London Spark, 480 London Road, Isleworth, TW7 4RL (Charity No: 1165809) (“the Applicant”)

TAKE NOTICE THATON 20 April 2026 following a hearing before the Licensing and General Purposes Sub-Committee (the “Licensing Panel” or “Panel”),

HOUNSLOW COUNCIL, as the Licensing Authority for the Premises RESOLVED that:

the application for the grant of a Premises Licence for Grasshoppers RFC, Syon Lane, Isleworth, TW7 5PN was GRANTED subject to the modifications and conditions stated below.

REASONS:

1)         The Panel convened to determine an application for the grant of a Premises Licence for Grasshoppers RFC, Syon Lane, Isleworth, TW7 5PN made under the Licensing Act 2003. 

2)         The Applicant applied for the following licensable activities:

·       Supply of alcohol on the premises:

Sunday 11:30 to 19:00

·       Live music outdoors:

Sunday 10:00 to 20:00

·       Anything of a similar description outdoors:

Sunday 10:00 to 20:00

·       The opening hours of the premises:

Sunday 11:30 to 20:00

The Applicant applied for a licence for a period of one year, from 7 June 2026 to 6 June 2027, during which time the Applicant intends to hold up to three events.

3)         A copy of the application was attached as Appendix A of the agenda pack.

4)         The hearing was held in-person. The Panel consisted of three members. All members of the Licensing Panel were in attendance throughout the hearing and during deliberation, which took place separately in a closed session.

5)         The Licensing Panel carefully considered all the relevant information including:

·       Written and Oral representations by all the parties

·       The Licensing Act 2003 and the steps appropriate to promote the Licensing Objectives

·       The guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 (“the Statutory Guidance”)

·       Hounslow Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy (“the Council’s Policy”)

·       The Human Rights Act 1998

6)         During the consultation period, the Authority received three representations from residents (“the Objectors”) objecting to the application due to concerns with a possible risk to public safety, and the prevention of a public nuisance. In particular, the representations referred to a previous event organised by the Applicants, in respect of which they raised concerns of a noise nuisance caused by the playing of music at loud levels; a lack of available parking resulting in disruption for local residents; a high number of attendees causing disruption; lack of information about where to report complaints; and operating hours which were too long. The written representations are shown at Appendix B of the agenda pack.

7)         The Council’s Senior Principal Regulatory Officer, Mr Thomas Blackford, raised concerns regarding monitoring of the noise levels during the event to ensure a nuisance was not caused to local residents. The correspondence between Mr Blackford and the Applicant are shown at Appendix C of the agenda pack.

8)         There were no representations from the Police opposing the application.

9)         A copy of the report and all representations received were sent to the Applicant.

10)      The Applicant was represented by two of its members: Mr Wojtek Witkowski and Ms Kat Andryszczak. Mr Blackford was in attendance. No Objectors attended the hearing.

11)      During the Licensing Panel hearing the facts giving rise to the application for the grant of a Premises Licence were set out by the Licensing Officer and were agreed by all the parties in attendance subject to changes the Applicant had since agreed with the management of Grasshoppers RFC to the operating hours and hours of licensable activities. The Applicant agreed the following changes:

a.    Supply of alcohol for consumption on the Premises: Sunday 11:30 to 18:00

b.    Live music outdoors: Sunday 12:00 to 18:30

c.    Opening hours: Sunday 12:00 to 20:00.

Submissions by the Applicant and Objectors

12)      The Applicant submitted that the event was intended to promote Polish culture in the community. The Applicant had experience of organising similar events over the last 16 years in various areas. Last year, a similar event was held by the Applicant at the Premises, which was well run. The Applicant stated that they had received a letter thanking them for the way in which it was organised. Additionally, the Applicant had had discussions with the management of Grasshoppers RFC, who had been supportive of the event. The event was intended to showcase local Polish vendors and would include homemade products and foods such as honey and other typical foods. The Applicant submitted that the venue was well located with good access for the public, whether by car or public transport. The Applicant had also made arrangements for parking with Sky Group HQ and Nishkam School, both located adjacent to the Premises.

13)      During questioning by the Panel, the Applicant explained that they had 3,000 attendees at the event the previous year, though it was noted that attendance was in waves ranging up to 2,000 attendees. The event lasted for six hours and attendees did not stay for the duration of the event. Similar attendance was expected at the upcoming event.

14)      The Panel heard that the Applicant was not aware of any incidents at last year’s event and was surprised by the representations received for this application. They were aware of complaints about the design of the leaflets provided last year but confirmed that the relevant information was provided. They were also aware of one or two parking incidents, but attributed these to visitors to local residents, rather than their attendees.

15)      The Applicant had prepared a leaflet which would be distributed to local residents. The leaflet was to contain information about the event and contact information for complaints. The Panel heard that 100,000 leaflets would be printed and distributed for the event in June 2026.

16)      The Panel heard that the Applicant had arranged ample parking with Sky Group HQ and the Nishkam School, which would be provided to their attendees free of charge. The car park at the Premises would not be used for the public, it was to be used as parking for vendors. Similar arrangements were made last year and the Applicant confirmed that the car parks had spaces available throughout the day and there was no reason for their attendees to park on the street. Additionally, the Applicant would arrange marshals to ensure the safe movement of people entering and exiting the Premises. These marshals will be posted along the routes to public transport and at junctions with side roads. Additionally, each car park will be supervised by two people, who will rotate over the course of the day to ensure they were not standing in the sun for a long period of time.

17)      When asked about the method for selling tickets, the Panel heard that the Applicant could not agree to advance ticket sales only. The event was to be held outdoors and, in their experience, attendance was often dependant on the weather. The total number of attendees was expected to be 3,000, similar to the event last year. The Applicant confirmed that if they reached capacity, admittance to the Premises would be stopped. When asked, the Applicant stated that last year, one-third of their ticket sales were sold on the door and two-thirds were advance sales.

18)      The Panel heard that there would be various activities for children during the day, for example a bouncy castle. The Applicants had several volunteers who were schoolteachers or had been trained to look after children. Additionally, the children would be accompanied by their parents, as the event was predominantly for families.

19)      In respect of alcohol sales, the Applicant reiterated that their event was predominantly a family orientated event and they were not focused on alcohol sales. One supplier had been organised, who would have multiple stands to ensure queues could be managed properly. For safety purposes, drinks were to be supplied in plastic cups, rather than glasses or bottles. The supplier had their own licence for alcohol sales.

20)      The Panel heard that the Applicant had responded to concerns about noise levels by agreeing to move the location of the stage. A map of the site was shown at page 29 of the agenda pack. The stage would be moved to where the bouncy castle is marked on the map, at the northwest side of the Premises. Additionally, speakers were to be angled towards the club to try to minimise the impact to residents. The Applicant would continue to monitor sound levels with a mobile monitor.

21)      The Panel then heard from Mr Blackford, the Senior Principal Regulatory Officer from the London Borough of Hounslow. Mr Blackford was satisfied with the modified hours as set out at the beginning of the hearing; the method of noise monitoring; and the proposed leaflet distribution for residents. In his view, the only issue that was not agreed in advance was the condition in respect of noise levels. Mr Blackford maintained that it should be limited to 65dB measured at the nearest noise-sensitive receptor, which was consistent with national guidelines. During the hearing and in discussions about last year’s event, Mr Blackford was able to check complaints raised in respect of last year’s event and confirmed there was just one complaint. Mr Blackford was aware of other complaints from the Premises, but they were not in respect of the Applicants.

22)      The Panel also heard that the purpose of monitoring over a 15-minute period was to eliminate momentary increases of noise, such as a loud vehicle passing by or aeroplane flying overhead.

23)      The Panel enquired about future events and heard that the Applicants intended to make a decision about future events after evaluating the success of the event on 7 June 2026. The Applicants were considering an event in September 2026 and another in June 2027, but these we

Decision

24)      The Panel was satisfied with the submissions made by the Applicant and were appreciative of the changes that were agreed at the outset following the concerns that had been raised during the consultation period. The Panel was also satisfied by the Applicant’s previous history of running a similar event at the Premises.

25)      The changes to the hours agreed by the Applicant did not include the start time for the supply of alcohol. The Panel considered it appropriate that the start time be changed to be consistent with the opening hours of the Premises.

26)      The Licensing Panel therefore decided to GRANT the application for a grant of the Premises Licence for three events with the following modifications:

a.    Supply of alcohol on the premises:

Sunday 12:00 to 18:00

b.    Live music outdoors:

Sunday 12:00 to 18:30

c.    Anything of a similar description outdoors:

Sunday 12:00 to 18:30

d.    The opening hours of the premises:

Sunday 12:00 to 20:00

27)          For the avoidance of doubt, paragraph 25) c. is limited to activities similar to live music, recorded music and dance as is described at Part 3 page 16 of the application form, which can be found in the agenda pack.

Additional Conditions:

1. The license is limited to a maximum of three events to be held before the Licence expires on 6 June 2027.
2. The Applicant shall ensure that amplified music should not exceed 65dB(A), LAEQ from the nearest noise-sensitive receptor measured over a period of 15 minutes. The nearest noise-sensitive receptor being the closest residential property.
3. Such monitoring to be carried out by a mobile monitoring unit three times during the event at: 10:00, 14:00, and 18:00. Locations to be monitored are Syon Lane, Club Entrance Gate; event perimeter (catering locations), Crowntree Close (Wyke Estate), 170 Wood Lane, 160 Wood Lane, 140 Wood Lane.
4. The Applicant shall ensure leaflets are delivered to properties during the week commencing 25 May 2026. The leaflet shall contain information about the event, including a contact telephone number. Leaflets must be delivered to all properties on Syon Lane, Gower Road, Staggs Way, Crowntree Close, Wyke Close, Wood Lane, and Braybourne Drive.

28)      The Panel would like to remind the Applicant that a breach of the licence times and conditions could result in a review of the Premises Licence, and potential modification of the conditions and even a revocation of the premises licence.

Right to Appeal

29)      Any party aggrieved with the decision of the Licensing Sub-Committee on one or more grounds set out in schedule 5 of Licensing Act 2003 may appeal to the local Magistrate’s Court within 21 days of notification of this decision.