The Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee of Waltham Forest Council is scheduled to consider an application to vary a premises licence for Tops Pizza. The meeting will also outline the procedures for licensing sub-committee hearings.

Grant of a Premises Licence: Tops Pizza

The sub-committee is scheduled to consider an application to vary the existing premises licence for Tops Pizza, located at 764 Lea Bridge Road, Walthamstow, E17 9DN. The application, submitted by Tops Pizza Ltd., seeks to extend the hours for late-night refreshments. Currently, the premises are licensed for late-night refreshments until 2:00 AM from Sunday to Thursday and until 4:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. The proposed variation would extend these hours to 4:00 AM every day of the week.

During the consultation period for this application, eight representations were received from other persons. These representations reportedly relate to the licensing objectives of preventing public nuisance, ensuring public safety, and preventing crime and disorder.

The sub-committee will be asked to consider the application and decide whether to grant it in full, grant it in part, or refuse it. The report pack outlines the general principles for licence conditions, emphasising that they must be appropriate for promoting the licensing objectives, precise, enforceable, and tailored to the specific premises. It also details mandatory conditions applicable to all premises licences, including those related to the supply of alcohol, exhibition of films, door supervision, age verification policies, permitted pricing of alcohol, irresponsible drinks promotions, and alcoholic drink measures.

The report also highlights that the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy, which was written with due regard to the Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003¹, does not provide for standard conditions. Instead, any conditions imposed will be tailored to the individual characteristics of the premises and will only be those necessary to meet the licensing objectives. When considering applications for extended hours, the policy guides that consideration should be given to the premises' location, transport availability, the nature of proposed activities, steps to prevent public nuisance, potential adverse impacts on local residents, cumulative impacts, and any representations identifying the premises as a focus for disturbance.

The sub-committee must also have regard to its public sector equality duty (PSED) under section 149 of the Equalities Act 2010², considering the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between people who share protected characteristics and those who do not.

The report pack includes several appendices providing further detail: Appendix A contains the application to vary the existing premises licence, Appendix B details the existing premises licence, Appendix C is the newspaper notice, Appendix D lists the representations from other persons, and Appendix E is a map showing the premises' location.