This Licensing Sub-Committee E meeting was scheduled to consider two applications: a variation to a premises licence for DUO/Cottons on Hoxton Square, and a new premises licence for 87a Great Eastern Street. The meeting also had a standing item for Temporary Event Notices, although the report pack does not indicate that any were scheduled for consideration.

Variation to a Premises Licence: DUO/Cottons, 45-47 Hoxton Square

The application for DUO/Cottons was submitted by Hoxton Enterprises Limited, whose Designated Premises Supervisor¹ is Zana Gramakova. The application included plans to:

• Amend the internal layout of the ground floor
• Amend the internal layout of the basement
• Extend the hours for the supply of alcohol to 02:00 on Friday and Saturday
• Extend the hours for the provision of late night refreshment to 02:00 on Friday and Saturday
• Add regulated entertainment comprising live music and recorded music between 23:00 and 02:00 on Friday and Saturday
• Amend existing conditions on the licence, and to add new conditions

Seven representations were received from local residents objecting to the application on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. Many of their concerns related to the existing cumulative impact² of licensed premises in Shoreditch. For example, one resident wrote

Hoxton Square already has a severe problem with the impact of many bars and clubs serving drinks late on weekend nights. There are many examples of public drunkeness, fighting, urination and worse around Hoxton Square.

The Licensing Authority also made a representation objecting to the application on the ground of prevention of public nuisance, citing

Recently commissioned research on behalf of the Council shows that the Shoreditch area suffers from the negative cumulative impact likely to be as a result of the large number of night-time, licensed venues in the area. The report states that this is at a significantly greater intensity and spatial scale than the rest of the borough’s clusters of night-time economy. These impacts include:

• High levels of crime, such as thefts, robberies and violence
• Significant on-street urination
• Large numbers of calls to the London Ambulance Service

The Metropolitan Police made a representation, but this was withdrawn after the applicant offered to add a set of 22 conditions to the licence, including the provision of CCTV, incident logs, adoption of a Challenge 25 proof of age scheme, employment of SIA security staff, and provision of a sound limiting device to be agreed with the Environmental Health team. The Environmental Health team did not make a representation on this application. The report pack includes two options for the Sub-Committee to consider:

1. That the application be refused
2. That the application be approved, together with any conditions or restrictions which Members consider necessary for the promotion of the Licensing objectives

Application for a Premises Licence: 87a Great Eastern Street, London

An application for a new premises licence at 87a Great Eastern Street was made by JNS Food and Wine Limited. This application requested the ability to supply alcohol off-premises from 09:00 to 00:00 seven days a week. One representation was received from another business, objecting on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm. The Metropolitan Police and the Environmental Enforcement team both initially made representations on the grounds of prevention of crime and disorder and prevention of public nuisance. These were withdrawn after the applicant agreed to add conditions relating to staff training, implementation of a Challenge 25 policy, waste management, provision of cigarette bins and public signage. The report pack again suggests two options for the Sub-Committee to consider:

1. That the application be refused
2. That the application be approved, together with any conditions or restrictions which Members consider necessary for the promotion of the Licensing objectives