The Licensing Sub-Committee of Hillingdon Council was scheduled to consider an application for a new Premises Licence for The Smoking Jacket at The Old Forge, Rickmansworth Road, Northwood. The meeting's agenda focused solely on this application, which had attracted numerous objections from local residents and a residents' association.

Application for a Premises Licence at The Smoking Jacket

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for a new Premises Licence for The Smoking Jacket, located at The Old Forge, Rickmansworth Road, Northwood HA6 2QN. The application, submitted by A & P Mehta Limited, sought authorisation for the sale of alcohol for consumption both on and off the premises.

The proposed operating hours included Monday to Thursday from 10:00 to 22:30 for alcohol sales and 10:00 to 23:00 for opening hours. On Fridays and Saturdays, alcohol sales were proposed from 09:00 to 23:30, with the premises open until 00:00. Sundays were scheduled for alcohol sales from 09:00 to 22:30, with the premises open until 23:00. Non-standard timings were also requested for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, allowing alcohol sales and opening until 01:00 on Christmas Day and New Year's Day respectively.

The premises is described as a standalone commercial unit, not currently trading, situated in an area characterised by residential properties, alongside mixed commercial and hospitality venues. The application included an operating schedule detailing the steps the applicant proposed to take to promote the licensing objectives.

A significant portion of the report pack was dedicated to the representations received from local residents and the Northwood Residents' Association. These objections primarily centred on the prevention of public nuisance, crime and disorder, public safety, and the protection of children from harm. Concerns included potential noise from customers, smoke from cigar smoking in outdoor areas, parking issues, traffic congestion on Rickmansworth Road, and the general unsuitability of a licensed premises in a predominantly residential area.

The applicant, A & P Mehta Limited, had responded to these representations, outlining proposed measures to mitigate concerns. These included conditions for the use of external areas, such as limiting the number of persons in the pergola and rear garden areas, and ceasing the use of external areas for alcohol consumption or smoking at 22:00. The applicant also proposed conditions relating to CCTV, an incident log, a dispersal policy, and signage to encourage customers to leave quietly. Further conditions were suggested regarding the Challenge 25 policy for alcohol sales and the supervision of children.

The report pack also detailed relevant sections of the Secretary of State's guidance under the Licensing Act 2003 and Hillingdon's own Statement of Licensing Policy, providing a framework for the Sub-Committee's considerations. The legal considerations section outlined the powers of the Sub-Committee in determining the application, including the ability to grant the licence with conditions, exclude licensable activities, amend times, or reject the application.