The Licensing Sub-Committee (4) met on Thursday 15 February 2024 to consider two new premises licence applications. The committee granted a licence for Argyll, located at 20 North Audley Street, with modified hours and conditions, and also granted a licence for Park Modern Apartments at 123 Bayswater Road, subject to a range of conditions, including those relating to its operation as a restaurant.

Argyll, 20 North Audley Street

The committee considered an application for a new premises licence for Argyll, located at 20 North Audley Street, London W1K 6WP. The premises operates as a high-end serviced office company, with alcohol and food available for clients' corporate events, meetings, and presentations. The application sought to allow late-night refreshment indoors from 23:00 to 00:00 and the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises from 08:30 to 00:00, seven days a week.

Representations were received from the Environmental Health Service and two local residents, primarily concerned about public nuisance due to the proposed hours and the use of a terrace area on the fifth floor. Key concerns included noise from the terrace, deliveries, and waste collection.

After deliberation, the Sub-Committee decided to grant the licence with several conditions. The hours for late-night refreshment were set from 23:00 to 23:30 Monday to Thursday, 23:00 to 00:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and 23:00 to 23:30 on Sundays. The sale of alcohol was permitted from 09:00 to 23:30 Monday to Thursday, 09:00 to 00:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and 09:00 to 22:30 on Sundays. The terrace on the fifth floor will be restricted to use until 22:00 daily, with a maximum capacity of 20 people (excluding staff). Crucially, a condition was added that there shall be no fixed bar at the premises, reinforcing its primary function as a serviced office. Other conditions addressed CCTV, staff training, waste management, and deliveries.

Park Modern Apartments, 123 Bayswater Road

The committee also considered an application for a new premises licence for Park Modern Apartments, located at 123 Bayswater Road, London W2 3JH. The premises intends to operate as a high-class restaurant with an external seating area, serving alcohol and food. The application sought hours for late-night refreshment indoors from 23:00 to 00:00 Monday to Thursday, and 23:00 to 00:30 on Fridays and Saturdays. Alcohol sales were requested from 08:00 to 23:30 Monday to Thursday, 08:00 to 00:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and 08:00 to 22:30 on Sundays. The premises would be open from 07:00 to 00:00 Monday to Thursday, 07:00 to 00:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, and 07:30 to 23:00 on Sundays.

Representations were received from the Metropolitan Police Service, Environmental Health Service, the Bayswater Residents Association (BRA), and the South East Bayswater Residents Association (SEBRA). Concerns were raised regarding public nuisance, particularly due to the premises being located within the Queensway and Bayswater Special Consideration Zone (SCZ), and the proposed hours extending beyond the council's core hours for restaurants. Residents also sought conditions to ensure the premises operated strictly as a restaurant, with alcohol being ancillary to substantial table meals.

The Sub-Committee decided to grant the licence with a range of conditions. The hours for late-night refreshment were set as requested, and alcohol sales were permitted within the requested hours. A key condition, Model Condition MC38, was imposed, stipulating that alcohol sales must be to persons seated and taking a substantial table meal, with waiter/waitress service. However, exceptions were made for the private dining room and the area in front of the ground floor bar, allowing for greater flexibility in line with the applicant's casual dining concept. Other conditions included CCTV, age verification, waste and delivery management, and a requirement for the premises to operate primarily as a restaurant, with a commitment to 90% of customers consuming a table meal, to be enforced via till receipts. The external seating area would be cleared by 23:00 daily.