The Licensing Sub-Committee of Barnet Council met on Monday 17 August 2026 to consider a variation to a premises licence for Whetstone Lounge, also known as Blac Restaurant. The meeting's agenda included a review of the licensing procedure and the specific application for the variation.

Variation of Premises Licence for Whetstone Lounge (aka Blac Restaurant)

The primary focus of the meeting was the application to vary the premises licence for Whetstone Lounge, located at 1302 High Road, Whetstone, N20 9HJ. The application, submitted by Whetstone Lounge Ltd, sought to extend the hours for various licensable activities, including the performance of live and recorded music, dance, late-night refreshment, and the sale of alcohol.

The proposed variations included extending the sale of alcohol to 1:30 am on Fridays and Saturdays, and 12:00 am on Sundays to Wednesdays, with an earlier start time of 11:00 am daily. The application also sought to extend the hours for regulated entertainment and late-night refreshment.

The report pack indicated that the licensing authority was required to hold a hearing due to valid representations received against the application. These representations came from local residents and a Responsible Authority, the Service Manager for Environmental Protection & Licensing. The concerns raised by objectors primarily related to the licensing objectives of the prevention of public nuisance, prevention of crime and disorder, and public safety.

Specific concerns highlighted in the representations included:

• Noise Nuisance: Residents expressed worries about increased noise from patrons leaving the premises late at night, amplified music, and noise from vehicles.
• Anti-social Behaviour: Concerns were raised about litter, discarded alcohol bottles, and potential for anti-social behaviour associated with late-night trading.
• Parking Issues: Residents reported existing problems with customers parking on residential streets, obstructing driveways, and the potential for this to worsen with extended hours.
• Crime and Disorder: Allegations of a serious assault occurring outside the premises and previous concerns about disorderly behaviour were mentioned.
• Public Safety: Issues regarding vehicles obstructing pavements and potential impacts on emergency vehicle access were raised.
• Cumulative Impact: Residents argued that the cumulative effect of multiple licensed premises in the area was already impacting residential amenity, and this variation would exacerbate those issues.

The applicant, Whetstone Lounge Ltd, had agreed to some amendments following discussions with the Police. Specifically, the Police agreed to the earlier start times for alcohol sales but recommended that applications for temporary event notices (TENs) be used for special occasions like New Year's Eve and bank holidays, rather than extending the licence permanently for these events. There was some clarification sought regarding whether all entertainment hours should revert to the original licence conditions or remain as applied for.

The report pack outlined the steps the Licensing Sub-Committee could take, which included modifying licence conditions, rejecting the whole or part of the application, or granting the variation. The Sub-Committee was reminded that any decision must be appropriate for the promotion of the four licensing objectives, taking into account the guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003¹ and the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy 2025².