Licensing Panel B of Camden Council met on Thursday 23 July 2026 to consider applications for variations to premises licences. The panel was scheduled to discuss applications for Souk Restaurant and Hanway Social Club, with supplementary information provided for both.

Souk Restaurant, 4 Neal's Yard, London, WC2H 9DP

The panel was scheduled to consider an application to vary the premises licence for Souk Restaurant, located at 4 Neal's Yard, London, WC2H 9DP. The application proposed changes to existing conditions, including the relocation of a condition regarding the sale of alcohol to table meal patrons from the basement to the ground floor, and vice versa for a condition relating to late-night alcohol sales. It also sought to remove conditions related to the sale of draught beer and the requirement for a door supervisor.

A representation was received from the Covent Garden Community Association (CGCA), opposing the application on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance. The CGCA raised concerns about potential light pollution from new rooflights, particularly impacting residents in the adjacent Seven Dials Court. While a planning condition requiring blinds for new rooflights was agreed, the CGCA noted that no similar condition was in place for an existing rooflight. They proposed a new condition: No light shall emanate from the premises which gives rise to a nuisance.

Hanway Social Club, 20 Hanway Street, London, W1T 1UG

The panel was also scheduled to consider an application to vary the premises licence for Hanway Social Club, located at 20 Hanway Street, London, W1T 1UG. The application sought to add the ground floor to the existing basement premises licence, effectively creating a single venue across both floors with a proposed capacity increase from 60 to 130 people. It also proposed extending the hours for recorded music and the supply of alcohol, and adding late-night refreshment as a licensable activity.

Representations opposing the application were received from the Licensing Authority, Environmental Health, a Residents Association, and three local residents. Concerns were raised regarding the potential for increased noise and public nuisance due to the extended hours and increased capacity, particularly given the premises' location in a mixed commercial and residential area. The Licensing Authority noted that the premises currently operated under two separate licences and sought clarification on how conditions were being managed. Environmental Health highlighted a history of noise complaints and breaches of existing licence conditions, including patrons drinking outside the premises. The Charlotte Street Association also objected, citing concerns about residential amenity and the cumulative impact of licensed premises in the area. A resident, Tom Martin, proposed a specific mitigation for noise nuisance related to air conditioning.

Supplementary information was provided by the applicant, including a list of agreed conditions with Responsible Authorities and a dispersal policy. These included conditions related to noise control, queue management, deliveries, waste collection, staff training, and a limit on the number of patrons using the smoking area. The Noise Pollution team indicated they would withdraw their objections based on the agreed conditions and dispersal policy.