The Licensing Sub-Committee of Havering Council is scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence for Jukebox, located at 72-74 South Street, Romford. The application seeks to extend the operating hours for various licensable activities, including the supply of alcohol and recorded music, and has attracted representations from responsible authorities raising concerns about cumulative impact and public nuisance.

Application for Premises Licence for Jukebox

The primary item on the agenda is an application for a premises licence for Jukebox, located at 72-74 South Street, Romford. The application, made by Moonshine Entertainment Limited, seeks to vary the existing licence to permit extended operating hours. Specifically, the applicant is requesting to extend the hours for regulated entertainment, late night refreshment, and the supply of alcohol until 03:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, and until 02:00 on Sundays. The premises would remain open to the public until 04:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The report pack indicates that Jukebox currently holds a licence for various activities, including live and recorded music, performances of dance, and the supply of alcohol, with current closing times of 02:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, and the premises open until 03:00 on those days. The application proposes extending these hours, which has led to representations from responsible authorities.

Representations from Responsible Authorities

Havering's Licensing Authority, represented by Paul Jones, has raised concerns regarding the application's potential impact on the Romford Town Centre Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ). The Licensing Authority's policy states a presumption against granting new licences or variations that would add to the existing cumulative impact in such zones, unless the applicant can demonstrate no adverse effect on the licensing objectives. The Licensing Authority notes that the current operating hours already extend beyond the guideline hours set out in their licensing policy, and the proposed extension would further exacerbate this. They also highlight potential dilutions in proposed conditions compared to the current licence, specifically regarding noise prevention and the requirement for door supervisors to wear high-visibility clothing. The Licensing Authority has also raised concerns about the applicant's compliance with existing licence conditions, particularly regarding staff training and the provision of a drugs awareness qualification.

Environmental Health, represented by Mike Richardson and George Pater, has also made representations opposing the extended hours. Their primary concern is the potential for increased public nuisance due to late-night dispersal of patrons, particularly affecting residents living above commercial properties in the vicinity and those in a new residential development adjacent to the venue. They argue that the additional hour would unreasonably increase public nuisance and that the premises' location within the Romford Town Centre CIZ means that extending hours beyond the council's recommended times would likely impact the CIZ.

The Metropolitan Police, represented by PC Chris Stockman, objects to the application on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance. The Police highlight that Jukebox is located within the Romford Town Centre CIZ, and the requested extension to 04:00 on Fridays and Saturdays would add to the cumulative impact by increasing alcohol availability, intoxication levels, and delaying patron dispersal. They note that a significant proportion of police incidents linked to the premises have occurred after midnight, and extending trading hours is likely to increase these risks. The Police also point to recent breaches of the current premises licence identified during a licensing visit, including insufficient staff training records, incomplete door supervisor registers, and regulated entertainment continuing beyond authorised hours. They express concern that the proposed changes to conditions, such as replacing the requirement for high-visibility clothing with professional, smart attire, could make door supervisors less discernible.

The report pack includes a list of police incidents associated with Jukebox between August 2025 and August 2026, detailing various offences including assault, sexual assault, possession of drugs, and racially aggravated harassment.

Procedure for Hearing

The meeting will follow procedures outlined in the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005. The Sub-Committee will consider the application, relevant representations, and may modify licence conditions, reject the application in whole or in part, or grant the licence if no steps are considered necessary.

The attendees for the meeting are Councillor Christine Vickery (Chairman), Councillor Geoff Starns, and Councillor Kevin Ayres.