This article summarises the report pack for a meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) on 19 June 2025. The meeting was scheduled to consider an application by Larchbury Limited for a new premises licence for Basement and Ground Floor, 222 Portobello Road, London, W11 1LJ. This was for a 'shadow licence' to mirror the existing licence.

Application for Premises Licence - 222 Portobello Road

Larchbury Limited applied for a premises licence for Basement and Ground Floor, 222 Portobello Road, W11 1LJ, also known as Tavernaki Portobello. This application was for a 'shadow licence' to mirror the licensable activities of the current licence holder, Made in Greece Limited, which permits:

• Playing of recorded music - Indoors
• Provision of late night refreshments - Indoors
• Sale by retail of alcohol - On and Off the Premises

The proposed hours for the new licence were the same as the existing licence.

The report pack included a table comparing the existing and proposed hours for licensable activities:

The designated premises supervisor was named as Amir Amir Moaven.

Larchbury Limited volunteered a number of steps to promote the licensing objectives¹, including:

• Displaying notices at exits requesting patrons to respect local residents.
• Ensuring additional hours for alcohol sales, recorded music, and late-night refreshment only apply when the premises operates as a restaurant.
• No admittance or re-admittance after midnight, except for smokers.
• Alcohol to be sold by waiter/waitress service for consumption by seated customers on the ground floor only.
• Limiting the number of customers in the basement to 35.
• Implementing a Dispersal and External Management Plan.
• Keeping external doors and windows closed after 21:00.
• Implementing a management plan to prevent disturbance from delivery drivers.
• No collections by delivery drivers or patrons between 23:00 and 07:00.
• Displaying signage advising against taking drinks or glass containers outside after 22:00.
• Displaying a dedicated telephone number for complaints.
• Maintaining a complaints record.
• Organising meetings with residents to discuss the premises' operation at least twice a year.
• Ensuring all staff who sell alcohol are properly trained.
• Operating a 'Challenge 25' age verification policy².
• Conducting a litter sweep in the vicinity after closing.

Representations

The licensing authority received one representation from the Ladbroke Association, objecting to some of the closing hours. The Ladbroke Association requested that the sale of alcohol and opening to the public should cease no later than 24:00 on any day, with half an hour for late night refreshments after closure. Their representation stated that:

The Ladbroke Association has no objection of principle to this application for a shadow licence. However, we object to some of the closing hours. The vast majority of licensed establishments on Portobello cease selling alcohol and are closed to the public at or more often before 24.00, with half an hour added on (i.e. till 0300) for late night refreshments. This is in line with RBKC licensing policy.

Portobello Road is a residential street. The residents have to put up with the market activities during the day and they should not be subjected in addition to late night noise from hospitality establishments (including from customers going in and out).

Other Information

One noise/nuisance complaint had been received in the preceding 24 months. In November 2024, a resident complained at 00:22 that the premises had opened a basement bar and that patrons were standing outside with drinks or to smoke, resulting in loud noise. Noise and Nuisance officers contacted the complainant to advise they would visit the premises and a warning letter was issued to the premises on 20 November 2024. The case was monitored until 20 January 2025 with no further action.

No Temporary Events Notices³ had been submitted in the past 12 months.

The Planning department had not provided comments at the time of writing the report.

Considerations for the Licensing Sub-Committee

In considering the application, the Licensing Sub-Committee should consider the licensing objectives, the council's Statement of Licensing Policy, and the Secretary of State's Guidance. The report pack included extracts from the Secretary of State's Guidance and the authority's Statement of Licensing Policy.