Subscribe to updates

You'll receive weekly summaries about Bromley Council every week.

If you have any requests or comments please let us know at community@opencouncil.network. We can also provide custom updates on particular topics across councils.

Licensing Sub-Committee - Monday 23 June 2025 10.00 am

June 23, 2025 View on council website
AI Generated

Summary

The Licensing Sub-Committee, consisting of Councillors Nicholas Bennett J.P., Christine Harris and Pauline Tunnicliffe, was scheduled to convene to address a single agenda item: a new premises licence application for Pierluigi's Pasta Fresca, located at 86 - 90 High Street, Beckenham BR3 1ED. Objections to the application, detailed in reports from the Director of Environmental Services, were also to be considered.

Pierluigi's Pasta Fresca - New Premises Licence Application

The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to review an application for a new premises licence at Pierluigi's Pasta Fresca, 86 - 90 High Street, Beckenham. The applicant, Pier Luigi's Restaurant Limited, sought permission for:

  • Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday - 10:00 - 00:30, Friday & Saturday - 10:00 - 01:30
  • Sale of Alcohol: Sunday to Thursday - 10:00 - 00:00, Friday & Saturday - 10:00 - 00:30
  • Late Night Refreshment: Sunday to Thursday - 23:00 - 00:30, Friday & Saturday - 23:00 - 01:00
  • Recorded Music: Sunday to Thursday - 10:00 - 00:00, Friday & Saturday - 10:00 - 01:00

The application included a request for extended hours on New Year's Eve and until 1am on days preceding bank holidays and St David's Day.

The report pack noted that the Licensing Sub-Committee could:

  • Grant the licence with or without additional conditions.
  • Exclude certain licensable activities from the licence.
  • Refuse to specify a premises supervisor1.
  • Reject the application.

Background

Pierluigi's Pasta Fresca had a history of licensing issues, including breaches of Covid restrictions, noise complaints, and operating in breach of its existing premises licence. These issues led to multiple interventions by the authorities, including fixed penalty notices, prohibition notices, noise abatement notices, and licensing reviews.

A premises licence was granted in November 2005. The Authority has engaged with the business on numerous occasions regarding noise complaints and breaches of the premises licence and other relevant legislation. Instances of this are listed below:

• December 2020, 2 x fixed Penalty Notices issued by police for breaches of Covid restrictions.

• 21st April 2021 Prohibition Notice served under The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Steps) (England) Regulations 2021 for contravention of Covid restrictions.

• 11th May 2021 £1000 fixed Penalty Notice issued for contravention of Covid restrictions.

• 8th July 2021 Letter sent advising no Regulated Entertainment can take place after 23:00

• 19th November 2021 Reports received that Regulated Entertainment is taking place after 23:00, further letter sent advising that it is not permitted by licence.

• 8th April 2022 Warning letter issued regarding ongoing licence breaches with regard to Unlicenced Regulated Entertainment.

• Noise Abatement Notice served following a weekend visit on 14th May 2022.

• 24th August 2022 Review of Premises Licence applied for by Public Health Nuisance Team, conditions added at hearing to address noise nuisance issues. (Decision can be found in Appendix 3)

• 9th February 2023 Closure Notice issued under section 19 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 for continuing to operate in breach of current premises licence.

• 17th March 2023 additional conditions added to licence following court procedure, including installation of noise limiting device with tamper evident seals.

• 18th December 2023 Visit by Licensing Authority where it was discovered that the tamper evident seals on the noise limiting device had been broken.

• 2nd May 2024 CCTV footage requested by Licensing Authority (as per licence condition) for incident on 27th April 2024. Further requests made for the CCTV footage on 21st May 2024 & 18th June 2024.

• 18th June 2024 email from Licensing Authority regarding complaint of obstruction of the highway as additional items that were not permitted by the Pavement Licence had been placed on the pavement.

• 29th January 2025 - Review of Premises Licence applied for by Public Health Nuisance Team, - Which is currently subject to appeal at the Magistrates Court (Decision can be found in Appendix 3)

Complaint History from March 2024:

  • 6 th March 2024 - Music re after hours entertainment
  • 16th March 2024 Very Loud Music after 2300hrs
  • 23rd April 2024 Outside area music and dancing by customers
  • 15th June 2024 Loud Music 2338hrs
  • 7 th July 2024 - Loud Amplified music frequently occurring 0018hrs
  • 25th August 2024 Extreme noise and music late in the evening
  • 27th August 2024 Loud music affecting new tenants to building.
  • 29th August 2024 Calibrated equipment installed until 18th Sept.
  • 31st August 2024 Loud Music 2250hrs x 2
  • 6 th September 2024 - Loud Music 2241
  • 7 th September 2024 - 23:25hrs Loud Music from Restaurant
  • 13th September 2024 Loud music and vibration 2337hrs
  • 15th September 2024 00:41hrs Loud music from restaurant

• 20th September 2024 - Calibrated Equipment installed in second property collected 02/10/2024.

  • 5 th October 2024 - loud music and heavy vibrations 2355hrs
  • 27th October 2024 Loud Music 0100hrs
  • 24th December 2024 23:59hrs Loud Noise
  • 26th December 2024 23:48hrs loud music and noise
  • 17th January 2025 Loud Music from Restaurant 22:39hrs
  • 19th January 2025 Loud music and vibration 00:51hrs
  • 26th January 2025 Loud music Started 21:30pm.

• 1st February 2025 - Every Saturday Pierluigis hosts very loud events. It is getting louder and louder and carries on until 2.00am,

  • 2 nd February 2025 - Loud amplified music at 00.24hrs
  • 15th February 2025 Loud amplified music started 10pm

• 17th March 2025 - Loud music, causing lots of shaking/vibrating. This started around 2 hours ago and is still ongoing 23:42hrs

• 22nd March 2024 - loud music played late into the nights at weekends

The premises had been subject to a previous licensing review on 7 December 2022, with additional conditions added to the licence following a court procedure on 17 March 2023. A further review on 29 January 2025 was currently under appeal.

Representations

The council received 9 objections and 13 letters of support for the application. Objections were received from:

  • The Metropolitan Police, citing concerns about public nuisance and previous breaches of Covid restrictions. The Police noted that they had met with management from Pierluigi's Pasta Fresca on 24 January 2024, following an allegation that a male had been assaulted at the venue. They reported that the management's attitude was dismissive about the male's intoxication levels and that the premises did not have a refusals log2 in place, which was a breach of their licensing conditions. The Police also stated that they were unable to fully investigate the actions of the male due to a lack of CCTV coverage in the internal dining areas, despite having first recommended that the premises installed CCTV covering the internal dining areas back in 2021.
  • The Planning Authority, due to pending enforcement cases.
  • The Statutory Nuisance & Anti-Social Behaviour Team, citing ongoing investigations and enforcement action due to loud amplified music.
  • Licensing as a Responsible Authority, citing a history of the business failing to promote licensing objectives.
  • Two ward councillors, Councillors Chloe-Jane Ross and Will Connolly, who both registered concerns from residents regarding music noise in the later evening.
  • Three local residents and a local residents association, citing concerns about public nuisance, late-night disturbances, unsuitability of the venue, unsafe parking, and the impact on community well-being.

Thirteen representations were received supporting the application, with supporters noting that Pierluigi's Pasta Fresca brought life to Beckenham High Street, attracted new clientele, boosted the local economy, and provided a high-quality dining experience.

Proposed Conditions

The application included proposed conditions such as the installation and maintenance of a CCTV system, the maintenance of an incident register, and the operation of a Challenge 25 proof of age scheme3.


  1. A premises supervisor is the person named on a premises licence who is responsible for authorising the sale of alcohol. 

  2. A refusals log is a record of all refused sales of alcohol, including the date, time, and staff member who refused the sale. 

  3. The Challenge 25 proof of age scheme requires individuals who appear to be under 25 years of age to produce identification before being served alcohol. 

Attendees

Profile image for CouncillorNicholas Bennett J.P.
CouncillorNicholas Bennett J.P.  Portfolio Holder for Transport, Highways & Road Safety •  Conservative •  West Wickham
Profile image for CouncillorChristine Harris
CouncillorChristine Harris  Vice-Chairman, Plans Sub-Committee No. 1 •  Conservative •  Kelsey and Eden Park
Profile image for CouncillorPauline Tunnicliffe
CouncillorPauline Tunnicliffe  Chairman, General Purposes & Licensing Committee •  Conservative •  Orpington

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.

× Meeting image