The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to consider an application to vary a premises licence for Smoke and Pepper, located at 166 Earl's Court Road, London, SW5 9QQ. The application seeks to extend the permitted hours for late-night refreshment and the premises' opening hours until 3 am, seven days a week.

Smoke and Pepper Premises Licence Variation Application

The primary focus of the meeting is the application by Bun and Butter Limited, trading as Smoke and Pepper, to vary its premises licence. The current licence permits the provision of late-night refreshment (indoors and outdoors) and specifies opening hours. The proposed variation would extend these hours significantly.

Specifically, the application seeks to:

• Extend the permitted hours for Late Night Refreshment (Indoors and Outdoors) from 11 pm to 3 am, Monday to Sunday.
• Extend the hours the premises is open to the public from 11 am to 3 am, Monday to Sunday.
• Remove conditions 20 and 22 from the existing licence. Condition 20 currently states that late-night refreshment is for takeaways only for collection by delivery drivers and not for the public. Condition 22 prohibits the supply of late-night refreshment to the public between 11 pm and 5 am.

The applicant has proposed additional conditions to promote the licensing objectives, including the presence of a manager after 11 pm, a limit of 30 customers inside after 11 pm (excluding staff and delivery drivers), and the maintenance of a written dispersal policy.

However, the application has attracted significant opposition. Nine representations have been received, including those from Councillor Linda Wade, Councillor James Ortiz, and the Earl's Court Society. Objectors raise concerns about increased late-night disturbance, noise, litter, anti-social behaviour, and road safety issues. They highlight that delivery riders are already known to congregate in nearby residential streets, such as Trebovir Road and Nevern Place, causing noise and litter. Concerns are also raised about the cumulative impact of late-night food premises in the densely populated residential area of Earl's Court. Some objectors suggest that if the application is granted, shorter operating hours and additional conditions, such as enhanced litter patrols and CCTV, should be imposed.

The report pack also includes details of previous complaints and relevant legislation, including the Licensing Act 2003¹, which governs these applications, and the Secretary of State's Guidance² on licensing objectives. The council's own Statement of Licensing Policy³ will also be considered.