Decision Maker: Licensing Sub Committee E

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: October 14, 2025

Purpose:

Content: 8.1  The Sub-Committee heard from the Principal Licensing Officer, the Applicant and their Legal Representative and the Other Persons. The Sub-Committee noted the additional information submitted by the Applicant, which had been circulated to all parties prior to the hearing.  The application was for a new premises licence which sought to authorise the sale of alcohol Monday 11:00-23:00 and Sunday 09:00-22:30. The Principal Licensing Officer shared that Environmental Health had withdrawn their representation following the agreement of conditions, it was also highlighted that the Sunday start time within the report was corrected to 11:00 a.m. (not 9:00 am).   8.2  During the course of submissions and a discussion of the application, the following points were noted: ·  The Applicant clarified that, alcohol sales would be only at pre-booked, ticketed events and not a not open-bar operation. The Premises was to function as a community and cultural venue offering music, art, workshops, yoga, not as a pub.  Alcohol was limited to bottled beer, wine, spirits, no cocktails. ·  The Other Person’s concern’s included - Potential noise from outside drinking and dispersal, the proximity to women’s refuge and local schools and the lack of communication with neighbouring properties to the premises. The applicant agreed to provide a contact email and telephone number for complaints and would provide regular updates newsletters to neighbours, optional resident meetings. ·  The Capacity of the venue was discussed and concerns were raised over the number of people in the space available, it was suggested it be capped at 200 subject to a fire-risk assessment. ·  Concerns were raised over the use of the outdoor area, following this discussion the limit was reduced from 30 to 15 person’s maximum outside consuming alcohol. Outdoor drinking was to cease by 21:30 and the small separate small smoking area was to be limited to 6–10 persons. Off-sales were to be restricted to the gated outdoor area only and members requested that the premises promoted sustainability by not using single-use plastics.   8.3 The Other Persons retained their objections to the application.   RESOLVED   Application for a Premises Licence – Raleigh Chapel, 138 Church Walk, London, N16 8QQ - APPROVAL   The decision of 14th October 2025   The Licensing Sub-Committee, in considering this decision from the information presented to them within the report and at the hearing and having regard to the promotion of the licensing objectives:   ·  The prevention of crime and disorder ·  Public safety ·  Prevention of public nuisance ·  The protection of children from harm   The application for a premises licence has been approved in accordance with the Council’s Statement of Licensing and the proposed conditions set out in paragraph 8.1 of the report.   ·  The hours of licensable activity   Supply of Alcohol (On and Off the premises)   Monday    11:00 - 23:00 Tuesday.  11:00 - 23:00 Wednesday  11:00 - 23:00 Thursday  11:00 - 23:00 Friday  11:00 - 23:00 Saturday  11:00 - 23:00 Sunday  11:00 - 22:30   Opening hours   Monday    11:00 - 23:30 Tuesday.  11:00 - 23:30 Wednesday  11:00 - 23:30 Thursday  11:00 - 23:30 Friday  11:00 - 23:30 Saturday  11:00 - 23:30 Sunday  11:00 - 23:00     ·  Condition 15 will be amended to read as follows:   "Use of outdoor areas for the consumption of alcohol shall cease at 21.30".   ·  Condition 21 will be amended to read as follows:   "No more than 15 patrons will be permitted to consume alcohol outside the premises at any one time. This number will be monitored by a member of staff"   And the following conditions will be added to the premises licence:   ·  Off-sales of alcohol shall only be permitted for consumption in the outside area.   ·  The Premises Licence Holder shall submit a written dispersal policy to the Licensing Authority. The dispersal policy shall be implemented at the premises. All staff shall be briefed on this dispersal policy. A copy of the policy shall be kept on the premises and shall be produced to a police officer or other authorised officer upon request.   ·  The Premises Licence holder shall maintain a dedicated contact telephone number and email address that must be available at all times to any person wishing to report concerns or make a complaint. These contact details shall be included on any website of the premises and on display at the premises.   Reasons for the decision   The application for a premises licence has been approved as members of the Licensing Sub-Committee were satisfied that the licensing objectives would not be undermined.    The Sub-Committee took into consideration that there were 6 objections from Other Persons (local residents), and the Police, the Environmental Protection Service, and the Environmental Enforcement Service all withdrew their representations after agreeing conditions with the Applicant. The Sub-Committee noted that no other Responsible Authorities made representations.   The Sub-Committee heard that this is an application for a community hall for licensable activities at ticketed events. The Sub-Committee noted that there will be no draft beer or cocktails served, and the events will end before 23:00. Also there is no application to authorise regulated entertainment.   The Sub-Committee took into consideration that although small the outside area was likely to cause noise nuisance as it would accommodate up to 30 customers. This was also a concern to local residents.   The Sub-Committee heard representations from the Applicant’s legal representative that the Applicant is an acoustic engineer and feels the music can be contained within the premises. The Applicant is a local resident, and is familiar with the area. The Sub-Committee noted that Applicant  has shown a willingness to work with the local residents to overcome any issues. The Sub-Committee took into consideration that the premises are situated in a residential area, and the local residents live close to the premises.   The Sub-Committee heard representations from the Applicant’s legal representative that they will have staff monitoring the outside area. The Sub-Committee took into consideration the capacity of 200 and the Applicant agreed to provide a Dispersal Policy. The Applicant agreed that alcohol would not be taken off the premises to prevent public nuisance.   The Sub-Committee heard representations from the local residents asking why there was a need for alcohol to be consumed outside of the premises. They would accept the consumption of alcohol inside the premises to reduce the risk of public nuisance. The local residents felt it was reasonable to have alcohol consumption inside only.   The Sub-Committee heard that other local residents had concerns about the disturbances late at night as it is a low traffic neighbourhood.  The local residents felt that holding events at the premises up to seven days a week was excessive.   The Sub-Committee took into account that the local residents maintained their objections after hearing from the Applicant, and their legal representative because they still had concerns about how the premises will operate once they start having events and using the outside area.   The Sub-Committee decided to grant the premises licence and amend conditions to the outside area to a maximum of 15 persons at any one time, and that the outside area should close at 21:30. The Sub-Committee took into consideration that the sale of alcohol will be provided to customers at ticketed events, and the Applicant agreed to communicate with local residents about when the events are taking place.   The Sub-Committee took into consideration that the local residents were more agreeable to 15 customers outside at one time and that the outside area closed at 21:30. The Sub-Committee noted the local residents welcomed more open dialogue and better communication with the Applicant in the future.   The Sub-Committee took into consideration that the Applicant had agreed to reduce their hours for the outside area, and the number of people in the outside area to mitigate the impact on the residential area.      The Sub-Committee were reassured about the events, and the operation of the premises going forward.   Having taken all of the above factors into consideration the Sub-Committee was satisfied that by granting the premises licence the licensing objectives would not be undermined.     Public Informative   1.  The Premises Licence Holder is advised to inform anyone that is likely to be affected when they are holding events.   2.  The Premises Licence Holder is encouraged to engage in meaningful dialogue with the local residents to resolve any impacts of noise  emanating from the premises.     3.  The Premises Licence Holder is strongly encouraged to use sustainable cutlery, plates, cups, food containers, and recyclable disposable materials to avoid using single-use plastic disposable items.