The Licensing Sub-Committee (1) of Westminster Council met on Thursday 28 May 2026 to consider two licensing applications. The meeting agenda included a review of membership and declarations of interest, followed by detailed discussions on proposed variations to the premises licence for The Groucho Club and a new premises licence application for Maison Close.

The Groucho Club, 44-45 Dean Street, London, W1D 4QB

The committee was scheduled to discuss a variation to the premises licence for The Groucho Club. The application sought to regularise the capacity and hours for all licensable activities across the premises. Specifically, it proposed amending the licence to reflect a consistent capacity of 300 people (excluding staff) at all times, and to extend the terminal hour to 2:00 AM, with 24-hour operation for residents and their guests. The application also aimed to regularise the closing hour to 2:30 AM.

Representations were received from Environmental Health and the Licensing Authority, both raising concerns about the potential increase in public nuisance and impact on public safety within the West End Cumulative Impact Zone¹. The Environmental Health representation highlighted that the variation of hours for the supply of alcohol and late-night refreshment, along with the proposed increase in capacity after midnight, could exacerbate existing issues. The Licensing Authority's representation noted that the requested hours exceeded Westminster's core hours and raised concerns about the proposed replacement of the existing staggered capacity condition with a flat capacity of 300, which could lead to an additional 100 people being present in the cumulative impact zone for a further two hours. The Metropolitan Police Service did not submit a representation.

The applicant, The Groucho Club Limited, provided a statement outlining their operational approach and the difficulties presented by the current licence conditions, particularly the staggered capacity reduction after midnight. They argued that standardising the capacity and hours would simplify management and allow for more orderly dispersal of patrons, thereby reducing the risk of public nuisance. They proposed additional conditions, including the deployment of SIA licensed door supervisors from Thursday to Saturday evenings and extending existing noise control and dispersal conditions to the second floor.

Maison Close, 9 Swallow Street, London, W1B 4DE

The committee was also scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Maison Close. The applicant, Maison Close Mayfair Ltd, proposed operating hours that significantly exceeded Westminster's core hours. Specifically, the application sought permission for regulated entertainment (live music, recorded music, performance of dance, and similar activities) from 12:00 PM to 6:00 AM daily. Late-night refreshment was requested from 11:00 PM to 4:00 AM, and the supply of alcohol (on and off sales) from 12:00 PM to 5:00 AM daily. The application also included non-standard timings to permit the sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment until 6:30 AM on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays of bank holiday weekends, Christmas Eve, Boxing Day, New Year's Day, and All Saints' Days, with a proposed terminal hour of New Year's Day for New Year's Eve.

Representations were received from the Licensing Authority, the Metropolitan Police Service, and Environmental Health Service. All three responsible authorities raised concerns regarding the potential impact on the licensing objectives, particularly public nuisance, prevention of crime and disorder, and public safety. The Licensing Authority noted that the premises are located within the West End Cumulative Impact Zone and that the requested hours extend beyond the council's core hours policy. They highlighted the high concentration of licensed premises in the area and the increased incident rates, stating that applications for music and dance venues in this zone are generally refused unless exceptional circumstances are demonstrated. The Metropolitan Police Service objected to the application based on the belief that it would undermine the licensing objectives due to its location within the West End Cumulative Impact Zone and exceeding core hours. Environmental Health Service also made representations, stating that the requested hours for regulated entertainment, late-night refreshment, and the supply of alcohol would likely cause an increase in public nuisance and potentially impact public safety.

The report pack indicated that the premises currently operates as a nightclub and previously held a licence that did not align with the applicant's proposed operational future. The applicant was asked to elaborate on their proposed future and innovation for the venue and whether the current licence would be surrendered.