The Licensing Sub Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Thursday 3 September 2026 to consider three applications for premises licences. These applications involved requests to vary existing licences or to grant new licences for establishments seeking to sell alcohol and provide late-night refreshment. The committee's discussions were based on the information provided in the report pack, which detailed the applications, any representations made by residents or responsible authorities, and proposed conditions.

Application for a variation of a Premises Licence for Star of the East

The committee was scheduled to consider an application to vary the premises licence for the Star of the East, located at 805A Commercial Road, London E14 7HG. The applicant, Jithendranath Thunoli, sought to extend the permitted hours for the sale of alcohol and the opening of the premises to allow for late-night operation. Specifically, the application proposed extending alcohol sales and opening hours to 1:00 AM from Monday to Thursday, and to 2:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, with Sunday hours remaining until 10:30 PM. The application also sought to extend hours for live and recorded music to align with these proposed opening times.

The existing licence permitted alcohol sales from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM from Monday to Saturday, and from 12:00 PM to 10:30 PM on Sundays. The current licence also allowed for recorded music indoors and outdoors from midnight to midnight, and late-night refreshment until 11:30 PM on Saturdays.

Representations were received from residents, the public, and the Licensing Authority, primarily citing concerns about noise nuisance, crime and disorder related to late-night alcohol consumption, and the potential impact on public nuisance. A detailed acoustic report highlighted the building's construction as a mid-19th century Grade II listed structure with no acoustic separation, leading to sound and vibration transmission into neighbouring properties. Residents also raised concerns about the building's suitability for amplified music and late-night entertainment, as well as existing issues with anti-social behaviour in the surrounding area. One representation specifically noted that the applicant, Jithendranath Thunoli, had only recently become a director of the operating company, Craig Pubs Ltd, and that experienced staff had been made redundant, raising questions about the management's capability to handle extended hours.

The applicant had proposed conditions in the operating schedule, which were largely consistent with the existing premises licence, and had also agreed to conditions with the Environmental Protection Team.

Application for a new Premises Licence for Much A Brew About Nothing

The committee was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Much A Brew About Nothing, located at 8 Heneage Street, London E1 5LJ. The applicant, TCW Trading Ltd, described the premises as a community-focused café and social enterprise aiming to host occasional pre-booked community and creative events. The application sought authorisation for the sale of alcohol (on sales only) from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM from Monday to Friday, from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Saturdays, and from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Sundays. The proposed opening hours were from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM from Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM on Saturdays, and 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Sundays.

The premises is situated within the Brick Lane Cumulative Impact Area (CIA). Representations were received from a local resident, Patrick Spottiswoode, who objected on the grounds of public safety, nuisance, and disturbance. The resident expressed concern about the street's narrowness and existing issues with drinkers congregating outside The Pride of Spitalfields pub. They argued that a second licensed premises would exacerbate these problems, turning the street into a drinking and smoking zone. The resident also noted that promotional material for past events suggested alcohol-led activities and vertical drinking, contradicting the applicant's claims that alcohol would be ancillary to food and that vertical drinking would be prohibited.

The applicant, Christina Roberts, CEO of The Complete Works and Director of TCW Trading Ltd, stated that the café's primary purpose was social enterprise and that alcohol sales were intended to support occasional evening community events, making them financially sustainable. She assured that the venue would not operate as an alcohol-led establishment and that measures would be in place to manage customer behaviour and prevent congregation outside. Conditions were proposed in the operating schedule, and further conditions were agreed with the Police and the Noise Team.

Application for a new Premises Licence for CTRL ALT Elite London Ltd

The committee was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for CTRL ALT Elite London Ltd, located at 116 Jubilee Street, London E1 3EB. The applicant sought authorisation for the provision of late-night refreshment (indoors) from 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM daily, seven days a week. The premises would be open to the public from 2:00 PM to 1:00 AM daily. The applicant described the premises as a supervised computer games lounge.

The application attracted representations from several local residents, including Farid Ahmed, Matthew Brown, Chris Hunt, Ek Hor Khor, Ilaria Massei, and Li Ying Neo. The objections were primarily based on concerns related to the prevention of public nuisance, crime and disorder, public safety, and the protection of children from harm. Residents living in the building, including those directly above the premises, raised concerns about noise disturbance from customers arriving and leaving, congregation outside, delivery driver activity, and operational noise. Some residents also highlighted previous incidents of break-ins at the premises and a fire alarm activation due to smoke spreading throughout the building, raising concerns about public safety and the suitability of the premises for intensified late-night commercial use within a residential building.

The applicant had offered measures in the operating schedule to promote the licensing objectives, including CCTV, staff training, and incident logs. Conditions were also agreed with the Police, Environmental Health, and the Licensing Authority. These agreed conditions included measures such as keeping doors and windows closed after 9:00 PM, prohibiting noise or vibration that would cause public nuisance, and implementing a Challenge 25 proof of age scheme for games rated 18.