The Licensing Sub-Committee of Bexley Council met on Tuesday 11 June 2024 to discuss several key issues, including the application for the variation of the premises licence for Arcadia Lounge Bar and Club. The committee decided to allow the application in part, removing conditions 20-28 from the licence, but refused the remainder of the application.

Arcadia Lounge Bar and Club Licence Variation

The primary focus of the meeting was the application for the variation of the premises licence for Arcadia Lounge Bar and Club, located at 247 Broadway, Bexleyheath, Kent DA6 8DB. The application sought to extend the hours for live music, recorded music, performance of dance, late-night refreshment, and the supply of alcohol, as well as the opening hours of the venue.

Police and Licensing Authority Concerns

PC Ellen, representing the Police, highlighted that the premises is in a Cumulative Impact Zone, which means that licensed premises are negatively impacting the licensing objectives and alcohol-related issues have reached problem levels in the area. She stated that the application did not set out sufficient measures to mitigate these impacts. She cited nine crime reports in the past six months, including six assaults or grievous bodily harm incidents, three of which occurred when the premises had a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) until 3am.

PC Ellen and Sgt Steven Watson, the Ward Sergeant for Bexleyheath Ward, both expressed concerns about the potential for increased violent behaviour and strain on emergency response teams if the application were granted. Sgt Watson noted that the area is a concentrated hotspot for the nighttime economy and violence, particularly at closing times of late-night venues.

Licensing Enforcement and Environmental Health Objections

Geraldine Eley, the Council’s Licensing Enforcement Officer, and Sarah Brewer, Environmental Health Officer, also objected to the application. Mrs Eley emphasized that the area is already a hotspot for crime due to excessive intoxication and that allowing the application would likely lead to increased issues with dispersal and noise disturbance for residents. She noted that other late-night venues in the area were closely watching the outcome of this application and would likely submit similar applications if it were granted.

Sarah Brewer added that longer opening hours would likely lead to more complaints of public nuisance, even from sober individuals causing disturbances late at night.

Applicant's Arguments and Proposals

Mr Guy Hicks, representing the applicant, argued that the premises had been trading for 27 years with one owner and that the application was in response to customer demand. He proposed several conditions to address concerns, including training staff in initiatives like WAVE and Ask Angela, signing up to the Mayor’s women’s rights safety charter, and revising the dispersal policy.

Mr Hicks contended that the lack of Police resources was not the owner's problem and that the premises had applied for approximately 30 TENs in the past eight months without Police objections. He also noted that no local Councillors or residents were present at the hearing to object to the application.

Sub-Committee Decision

After considering all evidence and arguments, the Sub-Committee decided to grant the application in part, removing conditions 20-28 from the licence, which were related to Covid-19 restrictions. However, the remainder of the application was refused. The Sub-Committee concluded that the applicant had not demonstrated that the variation would not add to the cumulative impact already being experienced in the area. They also found that the proposed conditions did not sufficiently address the concerns raised by the Responsible Authorities.

For more details, you can refer to the Item 3 Minutes 15 May and the Public reports pack 11th-Jun-2024 18.30 Licensing Sub-Committee.