The Licensing Sub-Committee (2) of Westminster Council is scheduled to meet on Thursday 17 September 2026 to consider two licensing applications. The committee is expected to review applications for Karaoke Box and Cavita, both of which involve proposed changes to their operating hours and licensable activities.

Karaoke Box, 12 - 14 Maddox Street, London W1S 1PH

The committee is scheduled to consider a shadow premises licence application for Karaoke Box, located at 12 - 14 Maddox Street, London W1S 1PH. This type of application aims to mirror the terms of an existing licence, providing a safety net for the landlord should the current tenant's licence be at risk. The application proposes to replicate the hours and licensable activities of the current licence, which includes the exhibition of films, playing of recorded music, late-night refreshment, and the sale of alcohol.

The report pack indicates that the Licensing Authority initially raised concerns regarding the application's potential impact on the four licensing objectives: Public Nuisance, Prevention of Crime & Disorder, Public Safety, and Protection of Children from Harm. However, these concerns were subsequently withdrawn after the applicant agreed to incorporate a specific model condition (MC85). This condition ensures that the shadow licence will only become active under specific circumstances, such as the suspension or revocation of the primary licence.

Despite the Licensing Authority's withdrawal of its representation, an interested party has lodged an objection. The primary grounds for this objection are the prevention of public nuisance, citing concerns about the proposed terminal hour of 04:30 for licensable activities and 04:00 for alcohol sales. The objector highlights that these hours represent a significant intrusion into a residential area and that there have been repeated noise nuisance from this venue in the past. The objector requests that the terminal hour be restricted to 01:00. Further comments from the interested party express concern that even if the hours are not currently utilised, a shadow licence mirroring them could allow a future operator to trade until 4 am without further consultation.

The discussion will also involve consideration of the City of Westminster's Statement of Licensing Policy, specifically policies CIP1, HRS1, and PB1. Policy CIP1 relates to the West End Cumulative Impact Zone, aiming to refuse applications for certain premises types that could exacerbate cumulative impact. Policy HRS1 outlines the council's core hours for licensable activities, and applications for hours outside these core times are considered on their merits. Policy PB1(B) also addresses applications within the West End Cumulative Impact Zone, with specific provisions for variations to existing licences.

Cavita, Ground Floor, 56 - 60 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2RZ

The committee will also consider a variation application for Cavita, a restaurant specialising in Mexican cuisine, located at Ground Floor, 56 - 60 Wigmore Street, London W1U 2RZ. The application seeks to extend the licensed hours for alcohol and late-night refreshment, as well as the overall opening hours, to 1 am each day. This would involve varying conditions 11(a) and (b) of the current premises licence, which currently set terminal hours for alcohol sales on weekdays and Sundays.

Representations have been received from the Metropolitan Police Service and Environmental Health. The Metropolitan Police are objecting to the application on the grounds that the proposed extension of hours would undermine the licensing objectives of the Prevention of Crime and Disorder and the Protection of Children from Harm. They have proposed a list of additional conditions to be added to the licence, which they believe are necessary to promote these objectives, particularly with the extended hours.

Environmental Health has also submitted a representation, arguing that the proposed variation would undermine the licensing objectives of the Prevention of Public Nuisance and Public Safety. They note that the premises currently operates within existing licensed hours and that the application seeks to extend these to 1 am daily, which exceeds Westminster City Council's core hours policy. Environmental Health has also proposed a number of further conditions.

The committee will need to consider the City of Westminster Statement of Licensing Policy, specifically policies HRS1 and RNT1. Policy HRS1 governs core hours, and applications for hours outside these are assessed on their merits, considering factors such as potential impact on crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. Policy RNT1 relates to restaurants, outlining criteria for granting licences and addressing cumulative impact within the West End Cumulative Impact Zone. The report also details the current licence conditions for Cavita, including mandatory conditions and those related to the sale of alcohol and late-night refreshment.