The Licensing Sub Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Tuesday 14 May 2024 to consider several applications for premises licences and temporary event notices. Decisions were made regarding applications for Lucia's, Burgers LDN, a local café, Fabwick, and Little LDN.

Lucia's Unit, 507 Queen's Yard, White Post Lane, London E9 5EN

The committee considered a new premises licence application for Lucia's, a food-led restaurant. The applicant, represented by Reese Rose of Joe and Rashlan Group Limited, proposed operating hours and activities. Hatton Garden Properties Limited, represented by James Thompson, objected to the application, citing concerns about public safety due to the premises' access route over their private land, which is also used as an emergency access. They argued that patrons spilling onto this land would create a hazard and potential nuisance, and that the applicant's own previous objections to other venues in Queen's Yard contradicted their current application.

The applicant stated that Lucia's is a small, food-led operation with no scope for becoming a music venue, and that all necessary conditions had been agreed with the police and fire brigade. They also argued that land access issues were outside the scope of the Licensing Act.

The committee decided to grant the premises licence for Lucia's.

Burgers LDN, 141 Leman Street, London E1 8EY

An application for a new premises licence for Burgers LDN, a takeaway operating from an alleyway, was discussed. The applicant, represented by Mr. Monso, stated they had been trading for three years and had made significant adjustments to comply with council requests, including changing delivery access times and increasing staffing. They noted that residents above the premises had not objected, and that the objector was located approximately 300 metres away and lived above other late-night food establishments. The applicant also highlighted that they had improved the alleyway's safety and cleanliness, deterring drug users and drunken behaviour.

The objector, Hatton Garden Properties Limited, represented by James Thompson, raised concerns about public safety, arguing that the small unit would lead to patrons spilling onto private land used as emergency access. They also raised concerns about litter, congestion, and the safety of deliveries. Thompson pointed out the applicant's previous objections to other venues in Queen's Yard, where they had expressed concerns about increased drunkenness and littering, which he found contradictory to their current application.

The committee decided to grant the premises licence for Burgers LDN.

Local Café, 84 St Stephen's Road, London E3 5JL

The committee considered a new premises licence application for a local café at 84 St Stephen's Road. The applicant, Sandra Vallejo, stated that the café had been operating for nearly two years without any complaints. She proposed operating hours until 9 pm and sought to sell alcohol for on-site consumption only. There were representations from local residents, but no objectors were present at the hearing.

The applicant formally amended their application to request alcohol sales from 11 am to 9 pm, with a closing time of 9 pm.

The committee decided to grant the premises licence for the local café.

Fabwick, Unit 4a, Queens Yard, 43 White Post Lane, London E9 5EN

A Temporary Event Notice (TEN) application was heard for Fabwick, located at Unit 4a, Queens Yard, 43 White Post Lane. The applicant, Kenan Balli, explained that the TEN was to allow operations while a full premises licence application was being processed. He stated that the venue was intended as an art space with a kitchen, and that he had no intention of hosting parties or loud music. Rita Craddock, representing Environmental Protection, objected due to concerns about noise, public nuisance, and the cumulative impact of late-night venues in the area. She noted that the venue currently had no licence, but a premises licence application was pending.

The applicant's representative, Mr. Sutherland, proposed amending the application to reduce the hours to end at 23:59 to address environmental health concerns. Dave Nevitt, an acoustics expert, was present to discuss noise management. Environmental Protection maintained their concerns about noise breakout, patron access and egress, and transport arrangements for patrons leaving the venue.

The committee decided to grant the Temporary Event Notice for Fabwick, with the hours amended to end at 23:59.

Little LDN, Unit 3, 39 Autumn Street, London E3 2TT

A Temporary Event Notice (TEN) application was considered for Little LDN at Unit 3, 39 Autumn Street. The applicant, represented by Robert Sutherland, proposed music, food, and alcohol sales from Saturday 25 May to Sunday 26 May, from 9 pm to 3 am. Environmental Protection objected due to concerns about public nuisance, noise breakout, patron access and egress, and the proposed hours extending beyond the council's framework hours. They noted that the venue's previous premises licence application had been refused.

Mr. Sutherland proposed amending the hours to end at 23:59 to address concerns. Dave Nevitt, an acoustics and noise control expert, confirmed he would be on-site to monitor noise levels. Environmental Protection reiterated their concerns about patrons leaving the venue, particularly regarding noise and transport, and requested more detail on the management of patrons outside the venue and those smoking.

The committee decided to grant the Temporary Event Notice for Little LDN, with the hours amended to end at 23:59.

Other Business

The committee also noted the minutes of previous Licensing Sub-Committee meetings held on 27 February and 11 April 2024. They agreed to extend the decision deadlines for several applications to 31 July.