The Licensing Sub-Committee (1) of Westminster Council met on Monday 7 September 2026 to consider a full review of the premises licence for Mistress of Mayfair. The meeting agenda indicated that the committee would discuss the membership of the sub-committee and any declarations of interest before moving on to the licensing application.

Mistress of Mayfair, 48-49 St James's Street, London, SW1A 1JT

The primary item scheduled for discussion was a full review of the premises licence for Mistress of Mayfair, located at 48-49 St James's Street, London, SW1A 1JT. This review was initiated by an application from the Metropolitan Police Service on 13 August 2026, citing concerns that the premises were associated with serious crime or serious disorder.

The report pack detailed that an interim decision had been made by a Licensing Sub-Committee on 17 August 2026 to suspend the licence with immediate effect, pending the full determination of the review. The committee was scheduled to review these interim steps and consider whether they should remain in place, be modified, or withdrawn. Subsequently, the committee was to determine the full review of the premises licence.

The report outlined the circumstances leading to the review, including a serious incident on 10 August 2026 where a male patron sustained a slash wound to the neck. A suspect was subsequently arrested and charged with attempted murder. The police investigation identified significant breaches of the premises licence conditions, particularly concerning the failure to use an ID scanning system, which is a condition of the licence. The report also detailed alleged inadequate management of customers during and after the incident, leading to resistance towards police officers and arrests.

Further concerns raised in the report pack included repeated non-compliance with the venue's ID scanning condition, failures in CCTV recording, and previous enforcement actions, including a Section 19 closure notice in January 2026 for breaches of ID scanning and CCTV retention conditions. Westminster Council inspectors had also identified breaches of ID scanning and incident log conditions during a visit on 31 January 2026.

The report also listed the licensable activities authorised by the premises licence, which included the performance of dance, exhibition of a film, performance of live music, playing of recorded music, anything of a similar description to live or recorded music, late night refreshment, and the retail sale of alcohol. The hours for these activities extended into the early morning.

The report pack included representations from various interested parties. The Licensing Authority submitted a representation supporting the review, citing concerns about the premises failing to promote the licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of crime and disorder. The Metropolitan Police Service also provided a detailed account of the incident and the alleged breaches of licence conditions. In contrast, a significant number of representations from interested parties, including customers and businesses, objected to the review, describing Mistress of Mayfair as a well-run, safe, and enjoyable venue with high standards of service and hospitality. One resident, however, submitted a representation expressing concerns about noise, disorder, and an increase in crime in the neighbourhood since the venue's opening, suggesting it operated more as a nightclub than a restaurant.

The report pack also contained details of previous applications and appeals related to the premises licence, as well as a map showing the location of the premises and other licensed premises in the vicinity.