This meeting was scheduled to include a discussion of an application to vary the premises licence of Bubble Bubble and Bar.

Bubble Bubble and Bar, 194 Old Kent Road

Bubblekaraoke Ltd applied to Southwark Council for a variation to the licence for Bubble Bubble and Bar at 194 Old Kent Road to:

• Allow the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises from 10:00 to 06:00, seven days a week
• Allow the performance of live and recorded music from 23:00 to 06:00, seven days a week.
• Allow the premises to open to the public from 10:00 to 06:30, seven days a week.

The application was the subject of an objection from the Council's Licensing Unit, submitted on behalf of Wesley McArthur, Principal Enforcement Officer, under all four licensing objectives.

The Licensing Unit notes that the premises currently has permission to sell alcohol until 01:00 Sunday to Thursday, and until 03:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. These hours were granted as part of a previous variation to the licence following an objection from the police.

The Licensing Unit objects to the application because:

The purpose of the variation is described in the application as follows (verbatim) – • “To extend the hours of licensable activity and opening hours until 06:00hrs seven days a week.”

The Licensing Unit argues that this is too late for a premises in this location, which the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy ¹ designates as residential. The Statement of Licensing Policy recommends a latest closing time of 23:00 for restaurants, cafes, and pubs in residential areas, and states that nightclubs are not considered appropriate.

The Licensing Unit points out that the Licensing Sub-Committee should be guided by this policy when making decisions:

We contend that the licensing sub-committee should be the gatekeeper of the Statement of Licensing Policy that was, in part, ratified by councillors who form part of this very licensing sub-committee.

The Licensing Unit further argues that the application effectively changes the nature of the business from the restaurant and bubble tea bar with karaoke rooms that was originally granted a licence to a late-night karaoke bar. They contend that:

It is entirely inappropriate to situate a late night / early morning karaoke bar in the locale.

Oisin Patrick Daly, acting as agent for the applicant, responded to the Licensing Unit's representation. They argued that the representation was submitted too late in the 28-day consultation period. They described the application as being for:

This is a small pre-booked karaoke bar with a significantly limited capacity, no adverse enforcement history and a focus on entertainment rather than alcohol sales.

Mr Daly stated that the applicant would be willing to amend the operating schedule they had applied for in order to address the Licensing Unit's concerns.