The Licensing Panel D of Camden Council met on Thursday 6 August 2026 to consider a single item: the renewal of a sex establishment licence for Blue Rose. The meeting's agenda also included procedural items such as the election of a chair and the approval of previous minutes.

Blue Rose, 4A Kentish Town Road, London NW1 9NX

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the application to renew the sex establishment licence for Blue Rose, located at 4A Kentish Town Road, London NW1 9NX. The report pack indicated that this application was for the renewal of a sex shop licence under Schedule 3 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982. The premises had been licensed since 2015 and had undergone annual renewals.

The report detailed that the application requested permission to continue operating as a sex shop between 10 am and 11 pm, Monday to Sunday. The premises' layout, as shown in the provided plans, includes a ground floor and a basement.

Consultation on the application had been undertaken, with no comments received from the Planning department, the Licensing Authority, Trading Standards, Environmental Health, Health and Safety, the Camden Safeguarding Children Board, Public Health, or the Fire Authority. However, the Metropolitan Police Service had made a representation, and one objection was received from a member of the public, Mr. Dan Whitaker.

The Metropolitan Police's representation, detailed in supplementary documents, raised concerns about the sale of items that they considered illegal without proper authorisation, specifically Sildenafil tablets and poppers. They stated that on two visits to the venue, breaches of the licence were observed, including the sale of regulated medication without prescription and the presence of an unauthorised individual managing the premises. The police also highlighted concerns about the area's character, noting issues with drug supply and usage, and the potential for increased risk to public safety and the prevention of crime and disorder. They recommended the full refusal of the licence renewal.

Mr. Dan Whitaker's objection, submitted via email, expressed that the signage Licensed Sex Shop was offensive, particularly given the presence of school-age children in the area and a rise in sexual violence against women and young girls. He noted that the area had evolved from one primarily for adults to one attracting many impressionable young people.

The report also outlined the Council's Sex Establishments Policy, which includes a presumption to refuse new sex establishment licences unless exceptional circumstances apply. However, this presumption does not automatically apply to renewals. The policy also considers the character of the relevant locality, the use of nearby premises, and the suitability of the applicant. The report noted that there was nothing to suggest the character of the area had changed since the last renewal.

The Licensing Panel was asked to determine the application to renew the licence, considering the applicant's suitability, the character of the locality, and whether granting the licence would be inappropriate. The panel had the option to grant the application with standard conditions, grant it with revised or additional conditions, or refuse the application. The report also included information on appeal rights and the relevance of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010 to the decision-making process.