The Licensing Sub Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Thursday 15 July 2021 to consider an application for a new premises licence for Italian Graffiti Food Centre and a temporary event notice for a music festival at Mudchute Park and Farm. The committee granted the licence for Italian Graffiti Food Centre with amended hours and conditions, and ultimately refused the temporary event notice for the music festival.

Italian Graffiti Food Centre Premises Licence Application

The committee considered an application for a new premises licence for Italian Graffiti Food Centre, located at 124 to 126 Brick Lane. The applicant, Mr. Asma Hussain, sought to sell alcohol and provide late-night refreshments. The previous licence for the premises, held by DS Cocoa House, had lapsed in November 2019.

Objections were raised by the Licensing Authority, Environmental Health, and the Metropolitan Police, primarily concerning the potential for public nuisance due to the proposed operating hours and the use of an external seating area. Concerns were also raised about the applicant's initial proposals being too extensive and not adequately addressing the licensing objectives.

Following discussions and the submission of an amended application, the applicant agreed to reduced operating hours and several conditions. These included:

• Reduced Hours: The proposed hours were reduced, with the applicant agreeing to operate within the council's framework hours for the area.
• External Seating: Conditions were agreed regarding the use of the external seating area, including a specific closing time and measures to prevent noise. The applicant clarified that the backyard area was enclosed and soundproofed, and they agreed to a condition that noise would not escape from this area.
• No Vertical Drinking: The applicant agreed to a condition prohibiting vertical drinking.
• No Off-Sales of Alcohol: It was clarified and agreed that there would be no off-sales of alcohol for consumption off the premises.
• Security: The police requested security to be on duty on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights from 8 p.m. until close. While the applicant initially stated they would only employ security if needed, they later agreed to consider this condition.
• CCTV: The applicant committed to installing CCTV.
• Staff Training: The applicant agreed to maintain training logs for staff.

The committee deliberated on the application and, after considering the amended proposals and the arguments presented, granted the licence with the agreed conditions.

Mudchute Park and Farm Temporary Event Notice

The committee then considered a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) for a music festival at the upper paddock of Mudchute Park and Farm on 24 July, from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event, organised by a company called Solos, was intended to host up to 499 people with live DJ performances, the sale of alcohol, and food.

PC Mark Perry, representing the Metropolitan Police, lodged an objection. His primary concerns were the late submission of crucial documents, the generic nature of the initial application, and a lack of confidence in the applicant's preparedness for an event of this scale, particularly given the location and the limitations of a TEN. He highlighted that a TEN does not allow for the imposition of conditions, meaning there is no recourse if issues arise. PC Perry also noted that the event was advertised on Resident Advisor, with approximately 208 tickets sold, and expressed concern about the potential for more people to attend than anticipated, especially in a large, open space like Mudchute Park. He suggested that a full premises licence with imposed conditions would be more appropriate for such an event.

The applicants, Mark Jeffries, Ben Murphy, and Luke Martin, stated they had four years of experience running similar events in venues and had consulted with event management teams. They presented an amended application with a risk assessment, event management plan, and staffing plan, detailing three medical staff and six SIA-registered security personnel. They assured the committee that the event would be held in a fenced-off area within the upper paddock, making it privatised and secure. They also confirmed that all tickets were sold electronically and that the event was sold out, with no expectation of significant numbers of additional attendees.

However, the committee members, particularly Councillor Kirsten Perry and Councillor Eve McQuillan, shared PC Perry's concerns regarding the lack of conditions that could be attached to a TEN, the proximity of residential areas, and the potential for disorder. Councillor Perry also declared a personal interest as she has an allotment next to Mudchute Park.

After deliberation, the committee decided to refuse the Temporary Event Notice. The decision was based on the concerns raised by the police regarding the lack of conditions that could be imposed on a TEN, the potential for public nuisance and disorder, and the applicant's limited experience with events of this nature in such a location. The committee suggested that the applicants could pursue a full premises licence application for future events.