The Licensing Sub-Committee (2) of Westminster Council met on Thursday 13 August 2026 to consider two new premises licence applications. The applications were for Amorino, an ice cream café in Old Compton Street, and Torino, a multi-level hospitality venue at Paddington Square. Both applications involved discussions around proposed operating hours and licensable activities, with representations received from various responsible authorities and interested parties.

Amorino, Ground Floor, 41 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 6HF

The committee was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Amorino, an ice cream café located at 41 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 6HF. The applicant, H2c Gelati Ltd, sought permission for late-night refreshment from 11:00 pm to 3:00 am, Monday to Sunday, with the premises open to the public from 10:00 am to 3:00 am daily.

The application was situated within the West End Cumulative Impact Zone¹, an area designated due to a high concentration of licensed premises and a significantly higher incident rate compared to the rest of the city. The report pack indicated that applications within this zone that fall outside of core hours are subject to a presumption of refusal, unless genuinely exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated.

Representations were received from the Licensing Authority, Environmental Health, and the Metropolitan Police, all raising concerns regarding the potential for increased public nuisance, prevention of crime and disorder, and public safety. The Soho Society also lodged an objection, echoing concerns about cumulative impact and requesting a reduction in the sought hours. The Licensing Authority proposed conditions related to the ancillary nature of licensable activities, the removal of outdoor furniture by a specified time, and confirmation of takeaway or delivery services. Environmental Health noted concerns about public nuisance and public safety, while the Metropolitan Police objected based on the potential to undermine licensing objectives. The Soho Society requested that the licensable activities be ancillary to the main function of an ice cream café and proposed conditions regarding outdoor furniture removal.

The existing premises licence for Amorino, reference 09/06572/LIPN, was noted to be suspended due to outstanding annual fees. This licence permitted late-night refreshment from 11:00 pm to 1:00 am Monday to Saturday, with opening hours from 12:00 pm to 1:00 am Monday to Saturday and 12:00 pm to 11:00 pm on Sundays. Conditions attached to the existing licence included limitations on late-night refreshment to hot drinks and focaccina, the closure of motorised blinds, and requirements for CCTV, staff training, and waste management.

Torino, 1 Paddington Square, Westminster, London, W2 1DL

The committee was also scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Torino, located at 1 Paddington Square, Westminster, London, W2 1DL. Torino London Limited applied for a licence for a café bistro on the ground floor, a restaurant on the first floor, and a rooftop bar on the second floor. The proposed hours for the sale of alcohol were Monday to Sunday, 10:00 am to 11:00 pm, with extended hours until 1:00 am on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. The premises were proposed to be open to the public from 6:00 am to 11:30 pm daily, with extended hours until 1:30 am on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

This application was not located within a Cumulative Impact Zone or a Special Consideration Zone. However, the proposed Sunday hours for the sale of alcohol exceeded Westminster's core hours policy for restaurants and bars.

Representations were received from the Environmental Health Service and two residents' associations: the South East Bayswater Residents' Association (SEBRA) and the Paddington Waterways Maida Vale Society (PWMVS). The Metropolitan Police initially objected but later withdrew their representation following an agreement on conditions. Environmental Health raised concerns about public nuisance and public safety, noting that further conditions might be proposed after a site visit and that the provision of sanitary accommodation needed to be addressed. SEBRA and PWMVS both objected on the grounds of potential public nuisance and crime and disorder. They raised concerns about the proposed hours, the inclusion of 'off sales', and the operation of the rooftop terrace. Both associations proposed a range of additional conditions, including a model restaurant condition for the entire premises, restrictions on smells and noise, limitations on outdoor drinks, and specific rules for the rooftop terrace, such as its use as a smoking area and capacity limits.

The applicant's submissions described Torino as a contemporary, multi-layered hospitality space with a focus on quality over volume, aiming to complement its surroundings without adding to cumulative impact. The applicant stated the premises would operate as a predominantly food-led operation with robust controls on the rooftop terrace. The Metropolitan Police, in their withdrawn representation, noted that while most proposed hours were within core hours, the Sunday hours for alcohol sales were an exception. They also highlighted the need for further conditions to promote licensing objectives.

The report pack detailed numerous conditions that were either consistent with the operating schedule or proposed by responsible authorities and interested parties. These included mandatory conditions under the Licensing Act 2003, conditions related to CCTV, age verification, incident logs, staff training, and a zero-tolerance drugs policy. Specific conditions were also proposed for the operation of the rooftop terrace, including noise management, capacity control, and restrictions on entry and re-entry. Conditions were also put forward regarding the restaurant's operation, including the requirement for substantial table meals and limitations on 'off sales'.