The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to meet to consider a time-limited premises licence application for Southwark Park, and to exclude the press and public from the meeting for items of business that would likely disclose exempt information. The meeting was scheduled to be held online/virtually. Councillor Renata Hamvas, Chair of the Licensing Sub-Committee, Councillor Ellie Cumbo, and Councillor Sunny Lambe, Deputy Mayor of Southwark, were scheduled to attend.

Licensing Act 2003: We Are The Fair, Southwark Park, Gomm Road, London SE16 2ET

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application made by We Are The Fair Limited for a time limited premises licence to be granted under the Licensing Act 2003 in respect of Southwark Park, Gomm Road, London SE16 2ET.

We Are The Fair Limited applied for a licence to cover the period from 4 July 2025 to 6 June 2028. The report pack states that the applicant has held multiple time-limited licences in Burgess Park previously.

The application described the premises and its intended operation as:

Southwark Park is located in Rotherhithe and covers an area of 25ha. It features a bandstand, a bowls club, playground and cafe. This application will apply to a specific area of the park and will be identified on a site plan to be agreed with the Local Authority in advance of events taking place.

The hours initially applied for were:

• For the sale of alcohol (on sales only):
  • Sunday to Monday from 11:00 to 21:30
  • Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 22:00
  • Sundays prior to bank holiday Mondays will cease at 22:00
• For regulated entertainment in the form of plays, films, live music, recorded music, performances of dance and anything of a similar description (both indoors and outdoors):
  • Sunday to Monday from 11:00 to 22:00
  • Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 22:30
  • Sundays prior to bank holiday Mondays will cease at 22:30
• Opening hours:
  • Sunday to Monday from 11:00 to 23:00
  • Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 23:30
  • Sundays prior to bank holiday Mondays will cease at 23:30

The proposed designated premises supervisor was named as Robert Dudley, who holds a personal licence with Birmingham City Council.

Representations

The council received representations from one responsible authority, and one other person.

Trading Standards

The council’s trading standards team initially made a representation, but withdrew it after the applicant agreed to additional conditions to promote the protection of children from harm. The conditions were:

• A Challenge 25 scheme¹
• Training for all staff involved in the sale of alcohol in the prevention of sales of alcohol to underage persons
• The prominent display of signage stating that a Challenge 25 policy is in operation
• The maintenance of a register of refused sales of alcohol

Southwark Park Association

The Southwark Park Association objected to the application on the grounds of public nuisance.

The representation stated that:

We consider three days of loud music, and accompanying large crowds, over a summer weekend, will be a great nuisance to many people who regularly use the park for peace and relaxation. Moreover, based on experience with previous similar events, we believe residents living both nearby, and elsewhere in the park catchment area, will be very badly affected by noise for many hours over the three days.

The Southwark Park Association refused to attend the hearing.

Southwark Council statement of licensing policy

The report pack referred to Southwark's statement of licensing policy 2021-2026, which was approved by the council assembly on 25 November 2020 and came into effect on 1 January 2021.