The Licensing Sub-Committee of Southwark Council scheduled a meeting to discuss a licensing application for SET Social, located at 55 Nigel Road, Peckham. The application was for a new club premises certificate under the Licensing Act 2003. Objections to the application had been received from local residents.

The following topics were scheduled to be discussed at the meeting:

Licensing Act 2003: SET Social, 55 Nigel Road, Peckham, London SE15 4NP

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application by SET Social for a club premises certificate under the Licensing Act 2003.

SET Social had applied for permission to:

• Plays, films, live music and performances of dance (all indoors) between 10:00 and 00:00, Monday to Sunday
• Recorded music (indoors) between 10:00 and 01:00 Sunday to Thursday, and 10:00 and 03:00 Friday and Saturday
• Supply alcohol to club members on the premises between 10:00 and 01:00 Sunday to Thursday, and 10:00 and 03:00 Friday and Saturday
• Open the premises between 10:00 and 01:00 Sunday to Thursday, and 10:00 and 03:00 Friday and Saturday

SET Social also requested:

• Seasonal variations for live music, to allow unamplified music sessions in the garden on very occasional summer afternoons... 3 or 4 times a year
• Seasonal variations for recorded music, to allow background music in the community garden only a handful of times per year during gardening events
• Non-standard timings for the sale of alcohol, until 4am on New Year's Day
• Non-standard timings for opening hours, until 4am on New Year's Day

The report pack included a description of the premises and its intended operation:

The club exists in a former low-rise church. The building is comprised of two main sections; a large congregation space which includes a café/bar, seating area, stage area and two pool tables, this area will be used for rehearsals, members meetings and talks as well as regulated entertainment such as film screenings, art performance, music and plays presented by the members; and a former side-chapel which includes a bar and seating area.

Ollie Tobin was named as the proposed club secretary.

Representations from Responsible Authorities

Representations had been submitted by Southwark Council's trading standards service, the Metropolitan Police Service, and the council's environmental protection team. However, these representations were withdrawn after the applicant agreed to proposed conditions.

Representations from Other Persons

Representations objecting to the application had been received from four 'other persons', all local residents. The representations contended that:

• The existing operation of the premises causes nuisance, disorder and mess
• The existing operation of the premises makes it hard for local residents to get to sleep
• The proposed extension of operating hours will lead to stress, disorder and lack of sleep
• Loud music emanates from the premises
• Customers speak with loud voices/shout in the vicinity of the premises
• The proposed extension of operating hours is not appropriate for the locale
• The premises are not suitable for late night operation because they are poorly sound insulated
• Crowds of customers often congregate in the locale
• The proposed extension of operating hours will be extremely detrimental to the quality of life of local residents
• The application, and any extension of operating hours, should be rejected

Licensing History

The report pack noted that a club premises certificate had been issued to SET Social on 15 December 2022, and that an application to vary the certificate had been made on 28 April 2023, but later withdrawn.

Two complaints regarding the premises had been received by the licensing unit.

Details of temporary event notices¹ (TENs) submitted in respect of the premises were included in the report pack.

Southwark Council Statement of Licensing Policy

The report pack stated that the sub-committee should have particular regard to sections of the Southwark Council statement of licensing policy 2021 – 2026 regarding:

• The four licensing objectives and the fundamental principles upon which the council relies in determining licence applications
• How the policy works and considers issues such as location; high standards of management; and the principles behind condition setting
• The council’s approach to cumulative impact and defines the boundaries of the current special policy areas and the classifications of premises to which they apply
• A guide to the hours of licensed operation that the council might consider appropriate by type of premises and (planning) area classification
• General guidance on the promotion of the four licensing objectives

The premises are located in the Peckham major town centre area, but not within the Peckham cumulative impact area² (CIA).

The report pack noted the closing times recommended in the statement of licensing policy for qualifying members clubs is 02:00.

Climate Change Implications

The report pack noted that the council is committed to considering the climate change implications of any decisions, and suggested examples of agreements that could be made with applicants to promote the reduction of the impact of climate change.