Here is a summary of the matters that were listed for discussion by Camden Council's Licensing Panel B on 1 May 2025. The meeting was scheduled to discuss guidance on remote meetings, and an application to review the premises licence for Kiss the Sky at 11-13 Camden High Street.

Review of Kiss the Sky's Premises Licence

The main item for discussion was scheduled to be a review of the premises licence for Kiss the Sky, 11-13 Camden High Street NW1 7JE. The application for the review was made by the Metropolitan Police, who believed that the licensing objective regarding the prevention of crime and disorder was not being upheld. The report pack included the Metropolitan Police's grounds for the review, as well as relevant representations from the Licensing Authority and the Planning Responsible Authority. Additional material was received from both the Police and the Licence Holder, St Georges Hotel Inn Limited.

Grounds for Review

The Metropolitan Police's application for review stated that Kiss the Sky had breached numerous conditions over the course of a year, including those imposed on them by the council at a previous hearing. The venue had also recently been found to be employing people in breach of their immigration/right to work status. The Metropolitan Police stated that the venue and venue management were not upholding the licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of crime and disorder. The applicant was seeking revocation of the premises licence.

The police stated that they had engaged extensively with the premises licence holder (PLH), named as Mr Ray, and management, taking a gradual and thorough approach, but had yet to see adequate improvements, and that they did not have sufficient confidence in the management’s ability to maintain a safe and compliant venue.

The issues linked to the venue were listed as:

• Crime and Disorder.
• Persistent breaches of conditions.
• Poor management of the venue.

History of the Case

The report pack included a summary of the history of the case:

• Summary Review December 2023: A serious incident occurred at the venue on 18 November 2023, where a member of staff assaulted a customer, and another staff member stabbed the customer and another person who intervened. The police sought full revocation of the licence, but the panel decided to give the venue a second chance, imposing seven new conditions, removing the designated premises supervisor (DPS), and banning the staff members involved in the incident from the venue.
• 18 October 2024: Venue Engagement: A police licensing visit found the venue in breach of 13 conditions, and two members of staff were suspected of breaching their right to work/immigration status.
• 10 January 2025: Joint Visit with Immigration: A joint visit with Immigration Enforcement found that the venue had paperwork confirming that the two males suspected to be in breach of their right to work/immigration status were employed by the PLH. Multiple licensing conditions were also breached, including those imposed at the last summary review. Staff logs were incomplete, security officers were often late or absent, and a banned ex-employee was observed drinking on-site. The DPS appeared to be exasperated and overwhelmed and was not conversant with the Licence. There was also a lack of WAVE/Ask for Angela material present throughout the venue.

Metropolitan Police Recommendation

The Metropolitan Police stated that they no longer had confidence that the venue could operate in a compliant manner and recommended that the licence be revoked.

Licensing Authority Representation

The Licensing Authority supported the review from the Metropolitan Police, stating that during multiple visits to the premises, the Police observed a series of alleged breaches of the conditions outlined in the premises licence. These breaches were in contravention of the conditions set forth in the premises licence.

The Licensing Authority also stated that the premises is situated in the Camden Town Cumulative Impact Area¹, where there is a presumption to refuse all new and variation applications in its entirety.

Planning Authority Representation

Camden’s Planning Service stated that the premises had been operating without planning permission and had submitted a retrospective planning application for a material change of use from a restaurant to a drinking establishment.

Licence Holder Submission

The report pack included a submission from the licence holder, stating that since a meeting with the Police and the Licensing Authority on 11 November 2024, significant operational improvements have been made. A new, highly experienced DPS, Ms Sonia De Leon, was appointed on 17 January 2025 to address capability concerns under previous management. The submission stated that since this date, no incidents, complaints, or further enforcement actions have been recorded.

The licence holder's submission stated that the allegations made do not reach the threshold of serious crime or serious disorder required under Section 53C(a) of the Licensing Act 2003 to justify the revocation or suspension of the premises licence, and that all issues raised have been addressed robustly through management changes, operational improvements, and documented compliance.

The submission included a point-by-point response to the Police’s Review Statement, alongside supporting exhibits demonstrating compliance and improvements made.

Options Available to the Panel

The report pack stated that the Licensing Panel had the following options available to them:

• Allow the license to continue operating as before
• Modify the conditions of the licence
• Exclude a licensable activity from the scope of the licence
• To remove the designated premises supervisor
• To suspend the licence for a period not exceeding three months
• To revoke the licence

Guidance on Remote Meetings

The panel was also scheduled to agree the procedure rules for remote meetings held under the Licensing Act 2003 and associated regulations. The procedure rules stated that Licensing hearings do not take deputations, and that the applicant, licence holder and parties making representations instead declare their intention to address the Committee beforehand. They will be sent a notice of the hearing as normal and are required to return this by 7pm, two working days before the hearing. Where a party has not indicated their intention to speak by this time, they will be presumed to not be addressing the Committee. Reasonable attempts will be made to accommodate those submitting late notifications, but their participation will not be guaranteed.