The Licensing Sub-Committee of Kensington and Chelsea Council considered an application for a premises licence for a basement kitchen at 27 Kensington High Street, London, W8 5NP, operated by 27 Kensington High Street Ltd under the trading name Nanotens in LTV . The application sought permission for late-night refreshments solely through deliveries, with proposed hours of operation from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Application for a Premises Licence for 27 Kensington High Street

The application received one representation from the Kensington Residents Group, primarily concerned with traffic management and potential nuisance due to the increase in delivery vehicles. The group highlighted concerns about congestion and safety.

During the hearing, Mr. Steve Brown, a surveyor for the applicant, explained measures to address concerns, including a dedicated driver collection protocol, maximum driver wait times, a no idling policy, and ensuring doors are closed after 11 p.m. The applicant also proposed noise-controlled extraction and waste removal restricted to daytime hours.

Councillor Heena Bellara questioned the applicant about the planning aspect, confirming that an application for planning permission for the change of use of the basement kitchen was pending. Regarding a past noise complaint, Mr. Brown detailed how the applicant had engaged with the complainant, implementing an intercom system and ensuring delivery drivers were informed about collection procedures to minimise noise, stating the complainant had expressed satisfaction.

Councillor Abdullahi Nur inquired about the business case for the extended hours on Friday and Saturday nights. Mr. Brown explained these hours were chosen due to existing activity on those nights and that the business had seen a significant drop in sales after 11 p.m. when operating under shorter hours.

The committee discussed proposed conditions with Mr. Paul Freel from the licensing department. These conditions, which had been agreed upon with the Noise and Nuisance Team, included:

• No noise or vibration from plant operations that would cause a nuisance.
• Deliveries to the premises not taking place between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• Refuse collections not taking place between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• No rubbish or bottles to be deposited outside the premises between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
• The Premises Licence Holder to operate a delivery policy, approved by the Environmental Health department, detailing strategies for courier attendance to prevent nuisance.

Further discussions involved the specific wording of conditions, including waste collection times and the submission of a delivery policy. The applicant agreed to a condition requiring a physical member of staff on the premises during operating hours and confirmed that customers would not be physically attending the premises, with all refreshments being for third-party delivery only.

The committee also addressed the applicant's trading name, clarifying that while the application was under 27 Kensington High Street Ltd, the business operated under the name Nanotens in LTV. The applicant explained that the kitchen had always been part of the premises and that they specialized in various food concepts.

The committee noted that the planning department had advised the applicant to submit a formal application for planning permission for the change of use of the basement kitchen. The committee's decision on the premises licence application was to be provided within five working days.