The Licensing Sub-Committee of Hillingdon Council met on Tuesday 11 August 2026 to consider a variation application for a premises licence at the London Empire Hotel Limited. After extensive discussion and consideration of objections from residents and the planning department, the committee decided to grant the variation application, imposing a number of new conditions.

Variation of Premises Licence for London Empire Hotel Limited

The primary focus of the meeting was an application by London Empire Hotel Limited to vary its existing premises licence, BHIL386-05. The applicant sought to remove film from licensable activities, reduce operating hours for the sale of alcohol and live/recorded music from 6 am to 2 am, and for late-night refreshments from 11 pm to 2 am. They also proposed to replace all existing conditions with new ones.

The application was met with significant objections from the planning department, ward councillors, and local residents. Key concerns raised included noise disturbance, anti-social behaviour, illegal parking, and issues with deliveries and dispersal of patrons, particularly at the rear of the property.

Arguments for the variation included:

• The applicant, represented by Mr. Jay Panchal from Personal Licence Courses, highlighted the extensive experience of the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) and stated that the proposed changes would reduce operating hours, thereby mitigating potential problems.
• New conditions had been agreed upon with responsible authorities, including a parking agreement with The Chimes car park, a security agreement with Duke Security, and an event management plan.
• The applicant argued that the variation was necessary to move away from a nightclub operation, which had previously led to the venue being shut down, towards a banqueting hall model, which they believed would be more manageable and less disruptive.
• It was argued that refusing the variation would mean reverting to the previous licence, which allowed operation until 6 am, a far less desirable outcome for residents.

Arguments against the variation and concerns raised included:

• Amy Fulham, a local resident and midwife, detailed the severe impact of noise and disturbance on her health and ability to work, stating that her sleep had been disturbed on 14 out of 17 days the venue had been open since July. She provided video evidence of disturbances and expressed a lack of trust in the operator due to previous incidents, including alleged breaches of a stop notice and noise abatement notice.
• Richard Ashford, landlord of properties adjacent to the venue, corroborated Ms. Fulham's concerns, detailing issues with blocked access for refuse collection, pest control problems, and disturbances to his tenants. He noted that the rear yard, previously unused, was now being used as a two-way parking road and space, causing significant disruption.
• Ward Councillors Terence Murray, Anil Taneja, and Councillor Russell voiced strong opposition, citing a history of abhorrent disregard for licensing objectives by the applicants, referencing previous issues in Ealing and Southall. They highlighted the contradiction between the application to reduce hours and capacity and the venue's social media advertising events for up to 1,000 people.
• Concerns were raised about the applicant's honesty and transparency, particularly regarding the use of fire exits for patron dispersal and the ongoing parking issues at the rear of the venue, despite the new parking agreement.
• Questions were asked about the robustness of the security arrangements, the training of staff, and the enforceability of the proposed conditions.

Decision:

Following a lengthy discussion, the Licensing Sub-Committee decided to grant the variation application. However, this decision was made with the imposition of several new conditions aimed at addressing the concerns raised by objectors. These conditions included:

• The rear entrance and exit would only be used for emergency purposes.
• No large items would be collected from the rear of the venue, with any necessary servicing to take place during daylight hours only (between 8 am and 10 pm).
• The venue would be restricted to a maximum capacity of 450 people, with a commitment to rectify any misleading online advertising.
• Specific conditions regarding security staffing levels, the use of plastic glassware, and a robust dispersal policy were to be implemented.
• A security deposit of £1,000 would be required for events, which could be withheld for damages, disturbances, or the use of fireworks.

The committee stressed that compliance with these conditions would be crucial, and any breaches could lead to a review of the licence.