The Licensing Sub-Committee (1) of Westminster Council met on Monday 07 September 2026 to consider a full review of the premises licence for Mistress of Mayfair. The meeting's agenda indicated that the committee would discuss the application for this review, which was initiated by the Metropolitan Police Service.

Full Review of Premises Licence for Mistress of Mayfair

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the full review of the premises licence for Mistress of Mayfair, located at 48-49 St James's Street, London, SW1A 1JT. This review was requested by the Metropolitan Police Service.

The report pack detailed that the application for the review was made on 13 August 2026, under Section 53A(1) of the Licensing Act 2003, due to the premises being associated with serious crime or serious disorder. A previous Licensing Sub-Committee meeting on 17 August 2026 had considered interim steps and a decision was made to suspend the licence with immediate effect.

The current meeting was scheduled to review these interim steps and determine the full review of the premises licence. The report pack outlined the incident that triggered the review: on 10 August 2026, a serious assault occurred at the premises where a male patron sustained a slash wound to the neck. Following police investigation, a suspect was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

The report detailed numerous alleged breaches of the premises licence conditions, including failures to scan identification upon entry, inadequate management of customers during and after the incident, and a lack of an up-to-date incident log. It was noted that similar failings had been identified in previous inspections. The Metropolitan Police Service's application stated that they had no confidence that the premises can continue to operate without undermining the licensing objectives.

The report also included representations from interested parties. A significant number of these were objections to the review, with many individuals and businesses attesting to positive experiences at Mistress of Mayfair, describing it as a well-run, safe, and high-quality venue. Conversely, one submission from a resident expressed concerns about noise, disorder, and a perceived shift in the venue's operation from a restaurant to a nightclub, suggesting dishonesty about its intended use.

The Licensing Sub-Committee was advised to consider the City of Westminster's Statement of Licensing Policy and guidance issued by the Secretary of State under the Licensing Act 2003. The report also outlined the potential steps the committee could take, which included modifying licence conditions, excluding the sale of alcohol, removing the designated premises supervisor, suspending the licence, or revoking it.

The agenda also included standard items such as reporting any changes to membership and receiving declarations of interest from members and officers.