The Licensing Panel of Hounslow Council was scheduled to meet on Wednesday 20 November 2024. The agenda included a report on an application for the variation of a Premises Licence under s34 of the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of Cineworld Cinema, Unity Square, Hounslow, TW3 1EL. This report was accompanied by the Council's own guidance on declarations of interests and its Licensing Policy.

Cineworld Cinema, Unity Square, Hounslow

Cineworld Holdings Limited, of 8th Floor Vantage London, Great West Road, Brentford, TW8 9AG submitted an application to vary their existing Premises Licence for Cineworld Cinema in Unity Square.

The application requests changes to the existing licence that would:

1. Extend the hours for the exhibition of films and other regulated entertainment to 24 hours a day.
2. Extend the hours for the provision of late night refreshment to 23:00 - 05:00.
3. Extend the hours for the sale of alcohol to 11:00 - 02:00.
4. Allow the premises to open to the public for 24 hours a day.
5. Add conditions to apply only on days when licensable activities are scheduled to finish after 02:30.

Representations

Seven representations were made by local residents in response to the application. The residents raised concerns about the potential impact of the requested changes on the licensing objective of the prevention of public nuisance.

Many of the objectors referred to their belief that there are already significant problems in the area related to noise, antisocial behaviour, and crime. Some specifically referenced problems with the behaviour of customers at Cineworld. One resident stated that:

The operation of Cineworld has already led to excessive noise, especially during late-night screenings. The cinema’s close proximity to residential buildings, including mine, significantly impacts the well-being of HSQ residents. The increased noise levels, particularly at unsociable hours, disturb our peace, particularly affecting families with young children.

The objectors requested that the panel refuse to grant the variation.

Applicant's Response

The applicant's solicitor wrote to one of the residents, responding to their concerns about the potential impact of the application. He said:

The purpose of the application is simply to give the cinema further flexibility and to allow the showing of the longer Bollywood films as the final showings.

The solicitor also stated that the Metropolitan Police Service does not object to the application, having agreed to a set of additional conditions, to be included on the licence, that would only apply when licensable activities are scheduled to finish after 02:30. These conditions are:

1. At least one SIA¹ trained security officer will be on duty after 20:00 hours until closing, and further SIA trained staff will be deployed at the discretion of the DPS².
2. The DPS will be responsible for carrying out a risk assessment for the need for further SIA staff.
3. The DPS and staff will be responsible for making sure their customers leave and disperse the area, once the premises is closed.
4. After 20:00, the premises will implement a method to ensure customers may not purchase more than two alcoholic drinks per person.

Council's Licensing Policy

The report to the panel on the application summarised the relevant sections of the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy 2020-25.

The report noted that Cineworld is within the Hounslow and North West Isleworth, Heston and Cranford Cumulative Impact Policy area. The report said:

The special policy takes the form of a presumption that applications for new premises licences and variations of existing licences will be refused if relevant representations are received. To rebut this presumption an applicant will have to address the issues raised in the special policy in their operating schedule and demonstrate that operation of the premises will not add to the cumulative impact.

The report also summarised the Council's policy on the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises:

Hours for the supply of alcohol will generally be restricted to between 09:00 and 23:00.