The Licensing (2003 Act) Sub-Committee of Newham Council met on Thursday 23 July 2026. The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for a new premises licence for The Crystxl Lounge Ltd. The meeting also included procedural matters such as the confirmation of procedure.

The Crystxl Lounge Ltd Premises Licence Application

The main focus of the meeting was to hear and determine an application for a new premises licence for The Crystxl Lounge Ltd, located at 339 Barking Road, East Ham, E6 1LA. The applicant, The Crystxl Lounge Ltd, sought to offer a range of licensable activities, including the supply of alcohol, exhibition of films, live music, and recorded music, with proposed operating hours from Monday to Sunday.

The report pack indicated that representations had been received from several council teams regarding the application. The Council Commercial Environmental Health Team raised concerns about the potential for public nuisance from live and recorded music, and from amplified sound accompanying film screenings. They proposed conditions that all music be background only and that films be shown silently using wireless headphones.

The Council Licensing Team also submitted representations, expressing concerns about the lack of specific conditions related to the four licensing objectives: protection of children from harm, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and prevention of crime and disorder. Specific concerns were raised about alcohol control, particularly regarding self-service of spirits and potential intoxication levels. The team also noted the premises' access through a barber shop and the potential availability of barbering equipment to patrons. Further concerns were raised regarding safeguarding training for events involving children and the overall impact of the premises on the local area.

The Council Trading Standards Team also made representations, focusing on the protection of children from harm. They sought clarification on the definition of a child, the appropriateness of events where children might attend, and measures to prevent proxy sales of alcohol. They also questioned the applicant's understanding of the law regarding film screenings and the need for British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) certificates or local authority authorisation.

The applicant, represented by Shereen-Crystal Emmanuel, Director of The Crystxl Lounge Ltd, provided responses to these representations. The applicant emphasised that The Crystxl Lounge is intended to be a small, managed venue for pre-booked events, not a nightclub or high-volume entertainment venue. They highlighted their experience in community event organisation and presented a Safeguarding & Customer Safety Policy, which they stated had been strengthened to address the concerns raised. This policy included measures such as a Challenge 25 policy, staff training, a refusals register, incident log, and procedures for responsible alcohol management and safeguarding.

Regarding the specific concerns, the applicant proposed alternative measures to the conditions suggested by the Commercial Environmental Health Team, including managing film audio by controlling volume levels rather than solely relying on headphones, and implementing measures such as regular checks at the premises boundary to monitor noise levels. They also offered to purchase a calibrated sound level meter and welcomed guidance on appropriate monitoring methodologies.

In response to the Licensing Team's concerns, the applicant clarified that alcohol would be served via a bar area with staff dispensing 25ml or 35ml measures, and that full spirit bottles would not be sold for self-pouring. They confirmed that food and free water would be available. The applicant also detailed measures to secure barbering equipment and confirmed discussions with the barber shop owner. They committed to adding proposed conditions regarding staff training, record-keeping, and the use of CCTV.

The applicant also addressed the Trading Standards Team's points by clarifying the definition of a child as under 18 and stating a voluntary commitment not to sell alcohol during events specifically organised for children. They explained that private screenings referred to organised, pre-booked events for invited guests, not circumventing licensing requirements, and outlined procedures for handling films without BBFC classification.

The report pack included appendices detailing the application form, representations from the Council Commercial Environmental Team, the Council Licensing Team, and the Council Trading Standards Team, along with the applicant's responses and their Safeguarding & Customer Safety Policy. Maps of the Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) and the premises were also provided.