The Licensing Sub-Committee of Bexley Council is scheduled to convene on Thursday, 18 June 2026. The primary focus of this meeting will be a review of the premises licence for Tap, located at 3 Wellington Parade, Blackfen Road, Sidcup.

Review of Tap Premises Licence

The meeting is scheduled to consider a review of the premises licence for Tap, situated at 3 Wellington Parade, Blackfen Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA15 9NB. This review has been initiated by the Licensing Authority as a Responsible Authority¹ and is being supported by the Police, also a Responsible Authority. The grounds for the review include concerns relating to the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

The report pack indicates that the application to review the licence was made on 30 April 2026. The grounds for the review stem from an incident on 20 March 2026, where a fight occurred at the premises during an 18th birthday party, resulting in a female customer sustaining glassing injuries. Police attending the scene reported significant intoxication among patrons and a lack of control by the venue's management. It was also noted that no door supervisors were present, and the CCTV system was not operational at the time, which is a breach of the licence conditions. Further concerns arose from subsequent visits where allegations of late-night lock-ins and illegal gambling were investigated. CCTV footage from these investigations reportedly showed organised poker games continuing into the early hours, alongside evidence of illegal drug use and the sale of alcohol outside of permitted hours. The Licensing Authority's submission highlights a consistent failure by the licence holder, Tap Drinking Limited, to comply with licence conditions, particularly those relating to CCTV operation and management oversight. The Police have also submitted representations supporting the review, detailing breaches of licence conditions and concerns about drug use and illegal gambling. The licence holder, Tap Drinking Limited, has received the review application but has not yet responded. The report pack includes the current premises licence and a plan of the premises, as well as supporting evidence from the Licensing Authority and the Police.