The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a new premises licence for The Hope pub in Kew, with several conditions attached to promote licensing objectives. The decision followed a hearing where the applicant, Paul Jensen, presented his case and addressed concerns raised by local residents and councillors.

The Hope Premises Licence Application

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application for a new premises licence for The Hope, located at 115-117 Kew Road, Kew, Richmond, TW9 2PN. The application sought to replace the existing licence with updated hours for the sale of alcohol, live music, and the addition of film screenings.

Decision: The Sub-Committee decided to GRANT the application with a number of conditions.

Key Changes and Conditions:

• Sale of Alcohol: Hours were set from 10:00 to 23:00 Sunday to Thursday, and 10:00 to 00:30 on Friday and Saturday. This represented a slight increase on Friday and Saturday evenings compared to the applicant's initial proposal, but was a reduction from the original application's requested hours.
• Live Music: Live music is permitted indoors from 19:00 to 23:00 Sunday to Thursday, and 19:00 to 23:30 on Friday and Saturday on the ground floor. An additional hour (until 00:30) is permitted on Friday and Saturday in the first-floor function room, limited to 50 events per year.
• Films: Film screenings are permitted indoors from 12:00 to 23:00, Monday to Sunday.
• Late Night Refreshment: Permitted from 23:00 to 23:30, but specifically not in the rear garden area.
• Rear Garden: Recorded music must cease in the rear garden by 20:00. The garden must close and be cleared of patrons by 23:00 daily. There will be no live music in the rear garden.
• Children: Children under 18 are not to be permitted on the premises after 21:00 on weekends.
• Noise and Disturbance:
  • All windows and doors on the ground and first floor must be kept shut after 23:00 when live music is taking place.
  • A contact telephone number for the premises will be displayed on-site and on the website for residents to report concerns.
  • Rubbish and bottles are not to be emptied between 19:00 and 07:00 Monday to Saturday, and between 19:00 and 08:00 on Saturday night/Sunday morning.
  • When private events are held on the first floor, a member of staff will be present at the exit during the last 30 minutes before closing to ensure quiet dispersal of customers.
• Off-Sales: All off-sales of alcohol must be in sealed containers.
• Acoustic Treatment: Doors into the garden must be acoustically treated and fitted with a self-closing mechanism.

Background:

The application was opposed by several local residents and Councillor Richard Warren, who is a Liberal Democrat Councillor for North Richmond Ward and Chair of the Policy and Performance Review Board. Concerns primarily focused on the potential for public nuisance, including noise from late-night activities, music, and patrons leaving the premises. There were also concerns about increased traffic and potential anti-social behaviour.

The applicant, Paul Jensen, who has extensive experience in the licensed trade, argued that the proposed changes were necessary to make the business viable and to bring its hours in line with other local pubs. He highlighted that the business was a family-run pub aiming to serve the local community and that existing operations had not resulted in complaints. He agreed to several conditions to address the objectors' concerns, including no live music in the rear garden and limitations on late-night refreshment outdoors.

The Metropolitan Police did not object to the application as the applicant agreed to their proposed conditions, which were incorporated into the licence. The Planning Department raised concerns about potential breaches of planning conditions regarding operating hours and the impact of noise.

The Sub-Committee noted that The Hope is located within the Richmond Town Centre Cumulative Impact Zone¹. They considered the applicant's experience, the amendments made to the application in response to representations, and the proposed conditions. The Sub-Committee was satisfied that the granted licence, with the imposed conditions, would promote the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.