The Licensing Sub Committee C met to consider a new premises licence application for West 25, 125 Packington Street and a premises licence variation for Rollex Inn, 5 Station Place. The meeting was scheduled to take place on 20 May 2025 at the Town Hall.

West 25, 125 Packington Street - New Premises Licence

The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for West 25, located at 125 Packington Street, London, N1 7EA. The applicant, The Flamboyant Collective Limited, sought permission for:

• The sale of alcohol (on and off the premises) from 10:00 to 00:00, Mondays to Thursdays; 10:00 to 01:00 the following day, Fridays and Saturdays; and 12:00 to 00:00 on Sundays.
• Playing recorded music from 10:00 to 00:00, Mondays to Thursdays; 10:00 to 01:00 the following day, Fridays and Saturdays; and 12:00 to 00:00 on Sundays.
• Providing late night refreshment from 23:00 to 00:30 the following day, Mondays to Thursdays; 23:00 to 01:30 the following day, Fridays and Saturdays; and 23:00 to 00:30 the following day.
• Opening hours from 10:00 to 00:30 the following day, Mondays to Thursdays; 10:00 to 01:30 the following day, Fridays and Saturdays; and 12:00 to 00:30 the following day.
• Non-standard timings for New Year’s Eve, with licensable activities until 02:00 the following day and opening hours until 02:30 the following day.

The report pack noted that representations had been received from the Metropolitan Police and the Council’s Noise Service, but that no amendments or conditions of approval had been agreed with the applicant. In addition, representations had been received from three local councillors, one local resident association, and 34 local residents, with one resident supporting the proposal.

The report pack included a summary of a letter from Constable Tim Livermore of the Islington Borough Licensing Team, which stated that the police would have no comment on many of the proposed licence conditions, but suggested amended wording for some of the conditions relating to crime and disorder. Constable Tim Livermore also noted that the application was outside of framework hours and timings for a public house/bar.

Senior Environmental Health Officer Fanos Santis also suggested conditions relating to noise, including reduced hours, a limit on the number of smokers outside after 9pm, and a noise management plan.

Several residents submitted objections to the application, citing concerns about:

• Increased noise and disturbances, particularly late at night.
• The impact on the quality of life of local residents in a quiet, family-friendly, and residential community.
• The setting of a concerning precedent, as other licensed premises nearby do not have comparable licences with such late opening hours.
• The fact that there has been no licensed premise at this property since 2014, and the area has changed significantly since then.
• The proximity of the venue to a school, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of local children and students.
• The potential for increased traffic and parking issues in the area.
• The applicant's limited experience in managing a business with the potential challenges associated with a late-night licence.

One resident stated:

I object to these working hours. I am not comfortable with the public nuisance and negative impact that such hours would bring with them.

Rollex Inn, 5 Station Place - Premises Licence Variation

The Licensing Sub-Committee was also scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence variation for Rollex Inn, trading as The Night Owl, located at 5 Station Place, N4 2DH. The applicant sought to extend the licensing area to include the basement of the premises.

The report pack noted that representations had been received from the Metropolitan Police, the Council’s Noise Service, and eleven local residents. The applicant had responded to the residents' concerns in writing, and had agreed conditions with the Noise Team and the police. The police representation had been withdrawn.

The report pack stated that the premises is located in the Finsbury Park Cumulative Impact Area, and therefore the Licensing Sub-Committee would need to consider Licensing Policy 3, which creates a presumption of refusal unless it can be demonstrated that there would be no adverse cumulative impact on the licensing objectives.

The report pack included a summary of a letter from the applicant responding to the concerns raised by local residents, stating that they had engaged proactively with the responsible authorities and taken all representations seriously. The applicant stated that a professional noise assessment had been conducted, a noise limiter had been installed, and music levels would be managed to ensure there was no disturbance to nearby residents. The applicant also stated that they had worked with the Metropolitan Police, who had agreed a comprehensive set of conditions, including the presence of SIA-licensed door supervisors, a detailed dispersal policy, and the use of incident logs. The applicant also agreed to ensure nightly clean-up of the external area and were committed to maintaining a clean and respectful environment around the venue.

The report pack included a list of existing conditions on the current premises licence, as well as conditions agreed with the Metropolitan Police and the Council’s Noise Service.