The Licensing Sub-Committee met on Tuesday 7 January 2025 to consider an expedited review of the premises licence for Drumsheds, located at 6 Glover Drive, London, N18 3HF. Following extensive deliberation and consideration of numerous representations, the committee made a decision regarding the future of the licence.

Drumsheds, 6 Glover Drive, London, N18 3HF

The Licensing Sub-Committee convened to conduct an expedited review of the premises licence for Drumsheds, a large entertainment venue. The review was initiated by the Metropolitan Police Service under Section 53A of the Licensing Act 2003, citing concerns that the premises were associated with serious crime and serious disorder.

The application for the review stemmed from several serious incidents, including two drug-related deaths on 12 October 2024 and 7 December 2024, and a stabbing incident on 16 November 2024. The police argued that these incidents demonstrated a failure to uphold the licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety. They highlighted issues with customer searching, leading to drugs being brought into the venue, and a lack of effective medical intervention in one of the fatal incidents. The police initially sought interim steps to suspend the licence, arguing that a standard review would not adequately address the imminent risk posed by the venue remaining open.

The premises licence holder, Nine Point Eight, along with numerous other parties, submitted representations. The licence holder acknowledged the seriousness of the incidents and proposed enhanced measures to address the concerns raised by the police. These proposed measures included improvements to searching procedures, the use of ID scanners, enhanced welfare and medical arrangements, the deployment of drug detection dogs, behavioural detection officers, and improved lighting and signage.

A significant volume of representations were received from other parties. The Metropolitan Police and the Licensing Authority submitted representations in support of the review, detailing their concerns and the incidents that led to the application. Conversely, a large number of representations were received in support of the premises licence holder. These included statements from local residents, professionals in the night-time economy, organisations such as the Mayor of London's office and Night Time Economy Solutions, and numerous individuals who had attended events at Drumsheds. These supporters frequently praised the venue's commitment to safety, its thorough security measures, the professionalism of its staff, and its positive contribution to London's cultural landscape and night-time economy. Many highlighted the inclusive and safe environment provided by Drumsheds, particularly for women and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered all representations and the evidence presented. Following deliberations, the committee made the following decision:

The Licensing Sub-Committee resolved to modify the conditions of the premises licence for Drumsheds. The licence was not revoked or suspended, but a range of new and amended conditions were imposed to address the concerns raised by the police and to further promote the licensing objectives. These conditions included enhanced measures related to searching, security, welfare, medical provision, drug detection, and crowd management. The committee acknowledged the efforts made by the premises licence holder to address the issues and the positive feedback received from many attendees and stakeholders. The decision aimed to balance the promotion of the licensing objectives with the venue's significant cultural and economic contributions.