The Licensing Sub-Committee of Richmond upon Thames Council met on Wednesday 10 June 2026 to consider a review of the premises licence for The Scrummery, located at 105 Whitton Road, Twickenham. The committee decided to modify the conditions of the licence, restricting alcohol sales to the rear conservatory only and imposing earlier closing times for both alcohol sales and public access.

The Scrummery Licence Review

The meeting focused on a review of the premises licence for The Scrummery, 105 Whitton Road, Twickenham, TW1 1BZ¹, following an application by Councillor Katie Mansfield². The grounds for the review centred on persistent public nuisance, concerns about public safety, and the protection of children from harm, primarily stemming from issues on rugby match days.

Councillor Lesley Pollesche³, Chair of the Licensing Sub-Committee, along with Councillor Phil Giesler⁴ and Councillor Anton McNulty-Howard⁵, heard representations from various parties. These included Councillor Mansfield, representing local residents; Russ Stevens⁶, Principal Licensing Officer for Richmond Council; the premises licence holders, Colin and Karen Griffiths⁷; and the operators, Rupesh Soni⁸ and Bijal Soni⁹ of Ruby Rocks Limited¹⁰, represented by their legal counsel. Numerous local residents also submitted objections detailing issues such as excessive noise from music, public urination, overcrowding, and anti-social behaviour.

The operators, Rubi Rocks Ltd, presented a case that they had taken steps to address concerns and had implemented an action plan. They also highlighted positive feedback from some residents and independent expert reports suggesting compliance. The premises licence holders, Mr and Mrs Griffiths, stated their intention to terminate the lease with the current operators and reclaim possession of the premises, citing a breakdown in the relationship and the operators' alleged failure to address issues.

After careful consideration of all evidence, the Sub-Committee decided to modify the conditions of the licence.

Key decisions made include:

• Sale of Alcohol: Alcohol sales on and off the premises were restricted to the conservatory at the rear of the premises. Crucially, no alcohol is permitted to be taken away from the premises.
• Trading Hours: Alcohol sales are now permitted from Monday to Saturday between 11:00 and 21:00, and on Sundays from 12:00 to 21:00.
• Premises Opening Hours: The premises must be open to the public from Monday to Saturday between 11:00 and 22:00, and on Sundays from 12:00 to 22:00.
• Non-Standard Time: An extension for New Year's Eve allows the terminal sale of alcohol until 02:00, with premises closure at 03:00.

A comprehensive list of 24 additional conditions were imposed, many of which were offered and agreed by the operator in their subsequent new application, with modifications by the Sub-Committee. These conditions aim to address the concerns raised by residents and responsible authorities and include:

• CCTV: Installation and maintenance of a comprehensive CCTV system meeting Metropolitan Police requirements, with continuous recording, 31-day storage, and immediate viewing access for authorities. External CCTV monitoring queue, smoking area, and entrance/exit points is also mandated.
• Notices: Prominent display of various notices, including requests for patrons to respect residents, CCTV operation, zero tolerance for drugs and weapons, search policies, Challenge 25, Ask for Angela , public urination warnings, and toilet locations.
• SIA Door Supervisors: A risk assessment to determine the number of SIA Door Supervisors required at all times. Those engaged must wear badges, be radio-equipped, wear high-visibility clothing when outside, manage customer dispersal, refuse entry to intoxicated individuals, eject drunk patrons, remain on site for 30 minutes after closing, refuse entry to those declining searches, use body-worn video, and actively monitor the vicinity to prevent public urination and nuisance.
• Alcohol-Free Drinks: Availability of alcohol-free drinks at all times.
• Doors and Windows: All doors and windows must remain closed after 21:00 during regulated entertainment or after 22:00, with regular checks by staff.
• Resident Complaints: A dedicated telephone number for residents' noise complaints, with an incident log recording all complaints and actions taken. Residents will receive a response outlining actions taken.
• Litter Monitoring: Litter monitoring at least every two hours until closure, with no rubbish or empty bottles placed in outside bins between 23:00 and 06:00.
• Challenge 25: Operation of a Challenge 25 proof of age scheme using recognised photographic identification.
• Incident Log: A detailed log to record crimes, ejections, complaints, CCTV faults, refusals of alcohol/admission, violence, theft, public urination incidents, and resident complaints.
• Children's Admittance: No children admitted unless accompanied by a responsible adult.
• Re-admittance: No admittance or re-admittance within one hour of the end of licensable activities.
• Policies: Premises licence holder to devise and maintain policies on Dispersal, Security, Drugs, Weapons, and Entry, with copies lodged with the Licensing Authority.
• SIA Staff Records: Recording of SIA staff details, including name, DOB, contact number, and duty times.
• Staff Training: All staff to be trained on the Licensing Act 2003, Crime Scene Preservation, WAVE, Counter Terrorism, and Ask for Angela .
• Deliveries: No deliveries between 21:00 and 06:00.
• Regulated Entertainment: No amplified music or flashing lights outside the premises at any time.
• Alcohol ABV: No beer, lager, or cider with an ABV of 6.5% or above to be sold, except for pre-agreed premium product lines.
• Personal Licence Holder: A personal licence holder must be on duty after 22:00, except in exceptional circumstances.
• Noise Limiting Device: Installation and maintenance of a noise limiting device for all amplified sound and music, calibrated by an Acoustic Consultant, with regular testing and recalibration.
• Litter Pick: Staff to conduct a litter-pick of Whitton Road extending 50 metres from the premises frontage at the end of trading.
• Stadium Directions: Compliance with directions from senior Police Officers during Twickenham Stadium events.
• Independent Consultant: Employment of an independent licensing consultancy for unannounced visits twice a year to assess compliance.
• Resident Meetings: Quarterly meetings with local residents, ward councillors, and the Safer Neighbourhood Team, advertised properly and held if reasonably requested.
• External Speakers/Music: Prohibition of external speakers and portable speakers.
• Capacity Limits: Documented capacity limits set by an agreed Fire Risk Assessment, known by staff, and not to be exceeded.
• Forecourt Bar: Prohibition of a mobile bar in the front courtyard at any time.
• Forecourt Route: Clear and unobstructed route from the front courtyard to customer toilets, with a yellow box junction to be painted within 8 weeks.
• Contact Number: A direct telephone number for the manager on duty to be advertised.
• Rahul Soni: Rahul Soni shall not be involved in the management, operation, or day-to-day running of the premises in any capacity.

The Sub-Committee concluded that modifying the licence with these conditions was the appropriate and proportionate response to promote the licensing objectives.