The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to consider an application for a review of a premises licence for The Champion public house. The review has been brought by a local resident, Mr Charlie Steel, who has raised concerns regarding public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

Review of The Champion Public House Licence

The main item scheduled for discussion is an application for a review of the premises licence for The Champion, located at 1 Wellington Terrace, Notting Hill Gate, London, W2 4LW. The application has been made by Mr Charlie Steel, a local resident, who cites concerns related to the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

Mr Steel's concerns, detailed in Appendix B of the public reports pack¹, include patrons consuming alcohol outside the licensed area, leading to noise and disturbance for local residents, particularly during evening hours. He also highlights issues with doors and windows being left open, allowing noise to emanate from the premises, and the presence of discarded drinking glasses and broken glass in areas accessible to the public, posing a risk of injury to children. Mr Steel has requested the imposition of additional conditions on the licence, such as the mandatory presence of an SIA-registered door supervisor on Friday and Saturday evenings, restrictions on outdoor drinking to seated patrons only, the use of plastic containers for outdoor drinks, and regular inspections of the area surrounding the premises for litter and broken glass.

The report pack also includes representations from other parties. One representation supports Mr Steel's application, noting that patrons continue to drink on Ossington Street despite notices asking them not to, and that broken glass has been observed on Ossington Street and Victoria Grove Mews, posing a risk to residents, including families with young children. This representation also recommends appropriate management of external areas during busy periods.

Conversely, five representations have been received in support of the premises. These state that residents have not witnessed anti-social behaviour or undue noise from the beer garden. They describe The Champion as a respectable and professionally managed establishment, not a sports bar or nightclub. These representations question whether the issues raised justify severe restrictions on the licence, suggesting that vertical drinking on Ossington Street should not be permitted but opposing additional restrictions like security requirements or the use of plastic cups.

The premises licence holder, Mitchells & Butlers Leisure Retail Ltd, has submitted a statement from Alexander Nandris, the Designated Premises Supervisor, along with supporting documents including an External Management and Dispersal Plan. Mr Nandris's statement outlines his experience and details the pub's history and community role. He addresses the concerns raised, stating that the pub conducts regular checks for glassware and litter, and that the area is often affected by litter from other sources due to its location on a main road. He also argues that imposing conditions such as requiring all outdoor drinking to be seated or served in plastic containers would negatively impact the pub's perception and financial viability, and are not in keeping with the affluent area.

The report also notes that twelve noise/nuisance complaints have been received in the preceding 24 months, details of which are attached as Appendix F. The Licensing Sub-Committee will consider the application in light of the representations received and the relevant sections of the Licensing Act 2003², the Secretary of State's Guidance³, and the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy⁴. The committee has the power to take no further action, modify the licence conditions, exclude a licensable activity, remove the Designated Premises Supervisor, suspend the licence, or revoke the licence.