Licensing Panel A was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Fumi, a Japanese restaurant located at 90 Leather Lane, London EC1N 7TT. The panel was also scheduled to review an application for a new premises licence for SoBe Burger at 206 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2AD.

Fumi, 90 Leather Lane, London EC1N 7TT

Licensing Panel A was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Fumi, a Japanese restaurant at 90 Leather Lane, London EC1N 7TT. The application was for the supply of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises between 12:00 and 23:30, late-night refreshment between 23:00 and 00:00, and opening hours between 12:00 and 00:00, seven days a week.

The report pack indicated that three relevant representations were received, all opposing the application. These representations came from residents and the Environmental Health department. Concerns were raised regarding the potential for public nuisance, public safety, crime and disorder, and the protection of children from harm.

Environmental Health noted that the proposed hours of operation until midnight posed a greater risk of public nuisance, particularly given the mixed commercial and residential nature of Leather Lane. They recommended that trading activities cease earlier, ideally at 23:00, and that any licensable activity would therefore cease 30 minutes prior to closure. They also suggested that the supply of alcohol should be ancillary to the service of a table meal and that all windows and external doors should be kept closed after 21:00.

Residents also raised objections, citing previous negative experiences with late-night establishments on Leather Lane, which had reportedly led to disturbance, anti-social behaviour, and a detrimental impact on residents' quality of life. Concerns were specifically mentioned regarding noise from customers, vehicles, deliveries, and waste collections, as well as littering.

The applicant's operating schedule proposed conditions aimed at promoting the licensing objectives, including CCTV coverage, staff training, an incident log, and prominent notices requesting patrons to leave quietly. However, the representations suggested these conditions might not be sufficient to mitigate the potential for nuisance.

SoBe Burger, 206 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2AD

Licensing Panel A was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for SoBe Burger, located at 206 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2AD. The application was for late-night refreshments between 23:00 and 01:00, Monday to Sunday, with opening hours from 11:30 to 01:00 daily. The premises is described as a restaurant situated on a high street, with no alcohol sales proposed.

The report pack indicated that three relevant representations were received, all opposing the application. These came from the Environmental Health responsible authority, a local councillor, and a resident association. The primary concerns related to the prevention of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder.

The Environmental Health representation highlighted that the applied-for hours were beyond Camden's framework hours for premises not selling alcohol, posing a greater risk of public nuisance. They recommended that the hours be reduced in line with Camden's Licensing framework hours and proposed additional conditions to mitigate noise, manage queues and smoking outside the premises, and regulate deliveries and waste collection.

Councillor Meric Apak, ward councillor for Kentish Town South, also raised concerns about the extended hours. Councillor Apak noted that Kentish Town Road is a densely populated residential area and that noise associated with late-night operations could disproportionately impact residents. They also pointed out an inconsistency in the application regarding the stated opening hours and the requested late-night refreshment hours.

A resident association also submitted a representation, requesting specific conditions related to delivery vehicles, access to facilities for delivery operatives, and noise generated by delivery operatives waiting outside the premises.

The applicant's operating schedule outlined measures to prevent crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance, and protect children from harm. These included CCTV, staff training on identifying and refusing service to intoxicated individuals, an incident log, and managing queues inside the premises. They also stated that the premises sells no alcohol, tobacco, vapes, or other age-restricted products.