The Licensing Sub-Committee of Kensington and Chelsea Council met on Thursday 23 July 2026 to consider an application for a shadow premises licence for 289-291 Fulham Road, SW10 9PZ. The committee heard the application and representations, and then retired to make its decision in private session.

Grant of a Shadow Premises Licence for 289-291 Fulham Road

The primary focus of the meeting was the application by Sloane Stanley Properties Limited for a shadow premises licence for the property at 289-291 Fulham Road, SW10 9PZ. A shadow licence is a licence held by a freeholder on the same terms as a tenant's existing premises licence, designed to protect the landlord's licensing position should the tenant's licence lapse. The applicant sought a licence mirroring the existing premises licence held by Marks and Spencer plc, which permits the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption and the playing of recorded music.

The application was met with two representations from local residents, Mrs Sarah Holcroft and Mr Peter Turner, both of Beaufort Street, SW3. Their concerns, detailed in Appendix D of the reports pack¹, centred on potential noise nuisance from loud music and late-night drinking, particularly affecting neighbouring residential dwellings and Elm Park Mews.

During the hearing, Mr Jack Spiegler, solicitor for the applicant, explained that the application was not for a new late-night venue but a measure to preserve the licensing position. He highlighted that Sloane Stanley Properties Limited has a long-standing reputation as a responsible landlord. Ms Mattson from the applicant company was also present to assist with any questions.

Councillor Abdel Noor inquired about the purpose of a shadow licence, to which Mr Spiegler explained its utility in preventing licence lapses due to tenant insolvency or other events, and in maintaining control over licensing terms. Councillor Noor also asked about the significance of alcohol sales within the overall retail offer. Ms Mattson clarified that alcohol sales were a small part of the previous Marks and Spencer food offering and that any incoming tenant would likely maintain a similar balance, with a predominant focus on food. Councillor Marie-Therese Rossi asked about potential future tenants, and Mr Spiegler assured the committee that discussions were with entities offering a similar retail profile, not a dedicated alcohol retailer.

The committee then moved to discuss draft conditions with the legal officer, Ms Emma Rowland. The applicant agreed in principle to a standard shadow term licence (Condition 2), with proposed amendments to clarify its operation in cases of suspension or revocation of the original licence, and in instances of lease forfeiture. The applicant also raised concerns about proposed conditions 3, 4, and 5, relating to Challenge 25 policies and age verification. Mr Spiegler argued that these conditions might not be relevant in the future if other age verification policies were in place and that they were not part of the current licence. The strongest resistance was noted for condition 4.

A further point raised by the licensing officer concerned a noise complaint about deliveries between 6:00 am and 6:45 am. The applicant objected to a condition restricting deliveries between 11 pm and 7 am, arguing that the complaint was unsubstantiated and that they had no way of confirming it related to this specific premises. However, it was noted that Sloane Stanley Properties Limited would discuss delivery management with incoming tenants.

Following the hearing, the committee retired to make its decision in private session. A summary of the determination was to be sent to the parties within five working days, followed by a full decision.