The Licensing Sub-Committee (4) of Westminster Council met on Thursday 6 June 2024 to conduct a full review of the premises licence for Louche, located at 4 Greek Street, London, W1D 4DB. The committee decided to modify the conditions and impose additional conditions on both the main and shadow licences for the premises, and to suspend the main licence for a further 14 days.

Louche Premises Licence Review

The primary focus of the meeting was the full review of the premises licence for Louche, located at 4 Greek Street, London, W1D 4DB. The review was initiated by the Metropolitan Police Service due to concerns that the premises were associated with serious crime.

The Sub-Committee reviewed the interim steps taken on 17 May 2024, which included the suspension of the main licence with immediate effect, the exclusion of alcohol sales from the licence scope, and the removal of the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS).

Decision: The Sub-Committee decided that it was necessary, appropriate, and proportionate to modify conditions and impose additional conditions on both the main licence and the shadow licence. The main licence was to remain suspended for a further 14 days from the date of the meeting, with the suspension continuing to have immediate effect. The removal of the Designated Premises Supervisor and the exclusion of the sale of alcohol from the scope of the licence were also upheld.

Background to the Review: The Metropolitan Police Service applied for a summary review of the premises licence on 15 May 2024, citing serious crime. This followed an incident on Saturday 4 May 2024 where a male victim was allegedly sexually assaulted in the premises' toilets. The police investigation revealed multiple breaches of licence conditions, including a failure to record the incident in the logbook and a lack of knowledge of licence conditions by management. A previous incident of actual bodily harm (ABH) on 28 April 2024 was also highlighted, where a suspect was not detained and the police were not called by the premises.

Submissions:

• The Police, represented by Armin Solimani, argued for a minimum of a two-week suspension of the licence and the imposition of new conditions, stating that the premises had failed to uphold the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective. They expressed a lack of faith in the current operators to manage the premises safely.
• The Licensing Authority, represented by Jessica Donovan, supported the police review, highlighting concerns about the promotion of licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety.
• Environmental Health Service, represented by Maxwell Koduah, also supported the review, emphasising the importance of confidence in the venue's management.
• Interested Parties, including The Soho Society and the Soho Ward Panel, represented by Richard Brown and Jane Doyle, expressed significant concern about the incidents and the management's handling of them. They supported the police's call for decisive action.
• The Premises Licence Holder (Main Licence), represented by Gary Grant, acknowledged the seriousness of the incident and the weaknesses in the venue's operation. They stated that changes had been implemented, including a new security company, management changes, and staff training.
• The Premises Licence Holder (Shadow Licence), represented by Niall McCann, stated they were unaware of the issues until the review application and requested no action be taken against the shadow licence, as concerns related to operational management.

Outcome: The Sub-Committee decided to modify conditions and impose additional conditions on both licences. These included requirements for SIA licensed door supervisors, the use of Body Worn Video (BWV) by door staff, ID scanning for customers after 21:00 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and the appointment of a trained welfare officer on busy nights. A toilet attendant was also mandated for the basement toilets. The main licence was suspended for a further 14 days from the date of the decision, with immediate effect. The Sub-Committee expressed hope that the Premises Licence Holder had learned lessons and would operate the premises to the highest standards.

The decision to suspend the main licence was made to prevent serious crime and promote the licensing objectives, with the Sub-Committee concluding that the premises were associated with serious crime. The shadow licence was not suspended as the concerns raised were primarily related to operational management.

The applicant for the review, the Premises Licence Holder, and any party who made a relevant representation have the right to appeal this decision to Westminster Magistrates' Court within 21 days of receiving it.

The meeting concluded at 1.01 pm.