The Kensington and Chelsea Licensing Sub-Committee convened to consider an application by Cadogan Estates Ltd for a new premises licence for a restaurant with a bar and external seating at 52 Sloane Street, London, SW1X 9SW. The application requested permission to sell alcohol for consumption on and off the premises. Several representations were received from local residents and groups, raising concerns about potential noise, disturbance, crime, and public safety issues.

52 Sloane Street Licensing Application

Cadogan Estates Ltd applied for a premises licence for a new restaurant with a bar and external seating at 52 Sloane Street, London, SW1X 9SW. The proposed hours for the sale of alcohol were 08:00 to 23:00, Monday to Saturday, and 09:00 to 23:00 on Sunday, for both on and off the premises. The applicant, with Adam John McGinlay as the designated premises supervisor, volunteered a number of steps to promote the licensing objectives, including:

• Substantial food and non-alcoholic beverages being available.
• Alcohol sold for consumption off the premises to be in sealed containers only.
• A 'Challenge 25' age verification policy¹.
• Maintaining a record of refused alcohol sales.
• Installing and maintaining a CCTV system.
• Keeping a daily incident log.
• Displaying notices requesting patrons to leave quietly.
• Submitting a Dispersal and External Management Plan to the council.
• Providing regular staff training on the Licensing Act 2003².

Objections

The council received five representations opposing the application, including comments from 50 Sloane Street Residents Group and South Kensington Residents Group. The primary concerns raised in the representations were:

• Increased noise from patrons leaving the premises late at night, disturbing residents.
• The potential for patrons to congregate outside the premises or in nearby residential areas, causing noise and littering.
• References to noise disturbances and anti-social behaviour from Sumosan Twiga, a nearby premises.
• The unsuitability of the area for late-night alcohol sales due to its quiet nature.
• The lack of evidence of steps to prevent noise emanating from the premises.
• The potential for increased anti-social behaviour, including public intoxication.
• The cumulative impact of multiple licensed premises in the area contributing to increased crime and disorder.
• Concerns that the external seating area would set a precedent and result in disturbance to local residents, as well as attract beggars and buskers.
• Fears that the external seating area would increase opportunities for criminal activity, such as drug sales, phone snatching, and theft.

One resident, Alexandra Morgan Thomas, expressed concern that:

There is no external restaurant seating on Sloane Street from Pont Street to Knightsbridge. Allowing external seating in this instance, next to a predominantly residential block, would set a significant precedent which would not be welcomed by local residents.

Karen Morgan Thomas, writing on behalf of 50 Sloane Street Residents Group and South Kensington Residents Group, highlighted concerns about crime and disorder, stating:

A further high-level eatery will inevitably attract more criminality in an area where there is a wealth of evidence that it already occurs. Drug sales, phone snatching and theft are rife and well documented. In particular, any unenclosed external seating will only increase opportunities for such criminal activity.

Amendments

Prior to the hearing, Philip Richardson, Principal Environmental Health Officer – Noise and Nuisance, reached an agreement with the applicant's solicitors, Thomas & Thomas Partners LLP, to include the following conditions:

1. The Premises Licence Holder shall ensure that no noise or vibration associated with the operation of plant at the Premises shall give rise to a nuisance to the occupiers of neighbouring properties.
2. Alcohol shall only be sold by waiter or waitress service for consumption by customers seated at tables, save for in the area hatched black on the plan.
3. The Outside tables and chairs shall be rendered unusable by 22:00 hours Monday to Saturday and 21:00 on a Sunday.

As a result of these agreed conditions, Philip Richardson withdrew his objections, stating that a hearing was not needed.

Cremorne Estate, Phase 2 Works - Mechanical & Electrical Works and External Works (Ref:469) - Procurement Strategy KD1010888

The Lead Member for Housing Management, Housing Safety & Building New Homes approved the procurement strategy for external cyclical works and M&E phase 2 works required at Cremorne Estate against a forecast value of £7,700,000 excluding VAT. This decision followed recommendations from the Executive Director of Housing and Social Investment, and endorsement by the Housing Management Procurement Board.