This meeting was scheduled to consider two applications for new premises licences. It is important to note that this article only summarises what was scheduled to be discussed in the meeting. It does not describe what was actually discussed or decided.

Licensing Act 2003: Tiloli, 3 Lordship Lane SE22 8EW

This was an application by Elflock Limited for a new premises licence for a bar/restaurant called Tiloli at 3 Lordship Lane, which had previously been a clothing shop. The application proposed opening hours between 9am and 12:30am Sunday to Thursday, and 9am to 1:30am Friday and Saturday.

The application included the following non-standard timings:

• An extra hour on bank holiday weekends.
• An extra two hours on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

The application was scheduled for discussion because it had received representations from three responsible authorities: the Metropolitan Police Service, the council's Environmental Protection Team, and the Licensing Authority itself.

Metropolitan Police

The Metropolitan Police Service initially objected to the application on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, because of concerns over the late opening hours. The police were also concerned that the application described the premises as a bar/restaurant, but the operating schedule did not restrict the sale of alcohol to being ancillary to a table meal. They therefore requested that the applicant agree to 15 conditions, some of which were already included in the application, and some of which were not.

The applicant agreed to the police's requested conditions 1-14, and offered alternative wording for condition 15. Condition 15, as originally proposed by the police, would have restricted the sale of alcohol to customers eating a substantial meal. The alternative wording proposed by the applicant allowed for up to 60 vertical drinkers , either seated or standing at the bar. This was accepted by the police, who withdrew their representation.

Environmental Protection Team

The Environmental Protection Team objected to the application under the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance. They had concerns over the hours that the takeaway of food had been applied for, which were outside of those recommended in the council's Statement of Licensing Policy 2021-2026.¹ The Environmental Protection Team also proposed a number of extra conditions.

At the time of writing, the Environmental Protection Team and the applicant were engaged in discussions to try to reach an agreement, with the applicant stating that any takeaway food sold after 11pm would be restricted to unfinished food from restaurant diners.

Licensing Authority

The Licensing Authority's representation was made under all four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance, public safety, and the protection of children from harm. The authority objected on the grounds that the proposed opening hours exceeded those recommended in the council's Statement of Licensing Policy.

The Licensing Authority asked for the hours to be amended to those of a restaurant, with a closing time of midnight Sunday to Thursday and 1am on Friday and Saturday. The terminal hour for on-sales of alcohol would be 11:30pm Sunday to Thursday and 12:30am Friday and Saturday. They also proposed a number of extra conditions.

Other persons

Three local residents also submitted representations in respect of the application, on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. Their concerns focused on noise from music and customers, as well as antisocial behaviour. One of the residents lived directly above the premises, and another lived next door.

The residents also raised concerns about cumulative impact, arguing that there were already too many licensed premises in the area. They were concerned that the late opening hours of the proposed premises would attract drinkers from other venues that closed earlier.

Licensing Act 2003: The Near and Far, Railway Arches 64 to 66, Gedling Place SE1 2JS

This was an application by The London Beer Factory Ltd for a new premises licence for The Near and Far at Railway Arches 64 to 66, Gedling Place.

The applicant described the premises as a:

contemporary bar & street food concept, designed to attract both locals and visitors to the area

They stated that:

The application seeks to permit the sale of alcohol within the core hours set out in the Licensing Policy Statement

However, the report pack noted that this statement was misleading, as the proposed Friday and Saturday hours were an hour later than the recommended closing times in the Southwark Statement of Licensing Policy 2021-2026.

The applicant proposed the following opening hours:

• Sunday to Thursday: 11am to 11pm
• Friday and Saturday: 11am to midnight

The application was scheduled for discussion because three local residents had submitted representations on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance.

The residents were concerned that noise from music and customers at the new venue would add to the cumulative impact of the already large number of licensed premises in the area. The residents stated that they were already experiencing noise and antisocial behaviour from venues in nearby Druid Street.