The Licensing Sub-Committee of Southwark Council met on Thursday 20 June 2024 to consider an application for a premises licence for Rincon Costeno. After an adjournment from a previous meeting to allow for further clarification on the applicant's connection to the premises' previous licence holder, the committee ultimately refused the application.

Rincon Costeno Premises Licence Application Refused

The Licensing Sub-Committee refused the application for a premises licence for Rincon Costeno, located at Arch 146 Maldonado Walk, Eagle Yard, Hampton Street, London SE1 6SP. The application was made by Irina Elizabeth Solorzano Chango.

The decision to refuse the licence was made after careful consideration of the application, representations from responsible authorities and local residents, and the history of the premises. The committee was particularly concerned about the applicant's initial lack of transparency regarding her connection to the previous licence holder of the premises, Pasaje Primavera, which had its licence revoked in August 2021 due to serious breaches of licence conditions.

During the hearing on 30 May 2024, it transpired that the applicant was related to the previous licence holder and that family members would assist in the operation of the restaurant. This contradicted her earlier statement that she had no connection to the previous operation. This led to an adjournment of the hearing to allow the Metropolitan Police Service and the council's licensing authority to clarify whether they were aware of this connection, if documentation proving a transfer of business had been provided, and if they remained satisfied with the proposed control measures.

At the reconvened hearing on 20 June 2024, the Metropolitan Police Service confirmed they were unaware of the applicant's connection to the previous licence holder until after the initial hearing. They stated that had they known this information, they may not have conciliated with the applicant. The licensing authority also confirmed they had not received documentation for the transfer of the business premises until the day of the hearing.

In light of this new information, both the police and the licensing authority expressed concerns about the applicant's ability to adequately promote the licensing objectives. The police suggested additional conditions to prevent the previous owner from being involved in the daily running of the business. The licensing authority also indicated they would have required a condition barring individuals connected to the previous premises from operating the restaurant.

The applicant's responses to questions regarding her connection to the previous licence holder and her understanding of the licensing objectives were found to be inconsistent and lacking. The sub-committee noted the significant concerns raised by local residents regarding noise and nuisance from licensed premises in the Eagle Yard area, which has been identified as a hotspot for anti-social behaviour. The history of the premises, Pasaje Primavera, which had its licence revoked due to serious breaches, was also a significant factor in the committee's decision.

The sub-committee concluded that they were not satisfied that the applicant could adequately promote the licensing objectives and therefore refused the application. The applicant was advised that she could reapply in the future but must be completely transparent throughout the process and obtain further licensing training.