The Lambeth Council Licensing Sub-Committee met to discuss two premises license applications. A decision on the application for Jungle Bar was deferred, and the application for Quick Stop to extend its hours for the sale of alcohol was granted, subject to amended conditions.

Deferred: Jungle Bar, 133 Stockwell Road

The sub-committee deferred a decision on the application for a new premises license for Jungle Bar, located at 133 Stockwell Road, London, SW9 9TN.

Pam Riley, the licensing officer, told the sub-committee that Jungle Bar Limited was seeking authorisation for:

Recorded music Monday to Thursday 11:00 to 00:00, Friday and Saturday 11:00 to 01:00, and Sunday 11:00 to 23:00
Entertainment similar to music and dance Monday to Thursday 11:00 to 00:00, Friday and Saturday 11:00 to 01:00, and Sunday 11:00 to 00:00
Late night refreshment Sunday to Thursday 23:00 to 00:00, Friday and Saturday 23:00 to 01:00
The sale of alcohol Sunday to Thursday 11:00 to 00:00 and Friday and Saturday 11:00 to 01:00

Ms Riley noted that the application had originally indicated different hours, but that the applicant had clarified the correct hours in a conversation that day. She also noted that 13 representations had been received in relation to the application, and that the application and plans could be found on pages 47-58 of the reports pack.

Councillor David Robson, Chair of Licensing, stated that the hearing was being adjourned because the hours in the application were not what was written in the report. He also noted that late material had been sent that afternoon under regulation 12¹, and that information submitted by the representations wasn't received in time due to an internal error. The hearing was rescheduled for 4 September 2025, but Councillor Robson noted that the date could change.

Approved: Quick Stop, 14 Acre Lane

The sub-committee approved the application for a variation to the premises license for Quick Stop, located at 14 Acre Lane, London, SW2 5SG. The application sought to extend the hours for the sale of alcohol to 03:00 every day.

Pam Riley, the licensing officer, stated that Andy Newman was representing the applicant, Jan Mattine, and that Gary Grant was also attending. She also noted that two representations had been received, one from the licensing authority, and one from public health, represented by Matthew Andrews.

Mr Grant, representing the applicant, stated that the economic viability of the convenience store and the jobs depended on the decision. He stated that the store was seeking to serve shift workers, including emergency workers, who wished to purchase groceries, food and alcohol after midnight. He also noted that the license permits the store to open for 24 hours, but it needs to stop selling alcohol at midnight. Mr Grant said that it perplexes customers when they can buy everything except the bottle of wine they want for their late dinner. He presented a petition with 38 signatories of people who live and work in the area who support the grant of the application.

Mr Grant argued that there was no objection from the police or environmental health, and no objection from the community. He said that the case was a clash between real life experience of what a 3am opening would mean at this store versus theoretical and academic concerns expressed by the two responsible authorities. He noted that Jan Mattine is a vastly experienced operator of convenience stores in London, including one in Brixton that already operates to 3am on Thursday to Saturday, and has had no issues whatsoever during those hours. He also noted that the store had operated over 18 nights until 3am without a single issue.

Mr Grant addressed the two outstanding objections. He noted that the licensing authority had not listed a single incident related to the store. He stated that the applicant was willing to accept a recommendation from licensing to change condition number nine on page 24 of the main agenda pack to match model condition 74, so it would simply be a blanket ban on the sale or supply of miniature bottles of spirits of 50 millilitres or less. However, he argued against a mandatory SIA² officer from 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, stating that it was not necessary and would eat into the margin of profit.

Mr Grant also addressed the representation from public health. He argued that public health is a noble and important objective, but not a licensing objective. He said that there were three venues said to be sensitive venues raised by public health, but that the Lambeth drugs and alcohol service closes at 5pm, and that the two hostels nearby with vulnerable people are only relevant if the grant of this application is going to undermine the licensing objectives. He stated that the applicant had offered a series of conditions that are directly addressing street drinkers.

Mr Grant stated that the applicant was intending to offer a change to condition number four on page 24 to make it more robust, so it reflects model condition 72, and will simply read no beers, ales, lagers or ciders of 6% ABV³ shall be sold.

Councillor Linda Bray, Chair of Pensions Board, asked for clarification about the SIA, and Mr Grant confirmed that the applicant did accept paragraph 16 on page 25, but not the enhanced one proposed by Mr Andy Newman. Councillor Bray also asked what actions the applicant was going to take should the premises attract the after party crowd. Mr Grant said that door supervision would be risk assessed, so if there was a big concert on a particular night at electric academy at the O2, the risk assessment will say that door supervision is needed.

Jan Mattine, the applicant, confirmed that it was their policy not to serve drunk people, and not to let them in. He also stated that at his other premises, after 1am, the doors are locked and drinks are served through a hatch. He said that the Acre Lane premises is much less busy than the High Street premises.

Councillor Marianna Masters asked about the economic argument for the later license. Mr David Gehr, from Shield Associates, clarified that the average of 10-16 people entering the venue was per hour.

Ola Owejuri, representing the licensing authority, stated that they were not convinced that it was difficult to manage the different hours for selling alcohol compared to other items. They also stated that the suggestion to have two members of staff on the premises after 11pm was not a compromise, because currently there is a condition saying two members of staff to be on the premises at all times. They said that the application is beyond policy hours, and that it is likely to attract street drinkers. They also noted that there are several premises along that area which, when patrons depart, are likely to stop by at this premises and just carry on partying and drinking on the street. They recommended that if the application is granted, that selling alcohol through a window etching should be a consideration.

Matthew Andrews, representing public health, stated that public health objects to the granting of the variation of the licensing application. He said that public health is of the view that given the specific circumstances of this particular location between the hours of midnight to 3am, there would be an increase in the risk of public nuisance and there would be a risk to public safety. He noted that the area is a gathering place for rough sleepers after midnight, and that there is a higher risk level due to the presence of vulnerable populations. He also noted that people leaving late night venues in the centre of Brixton are more likely to be intoxicated, and it creates a higher risk of public nuisance in the area and public safety in the venue.

Mr Andrews read a statement from Riverside supported housing, located at 46 Acre Lane, which stated that the extended hours of selling alcohol during unsociable hours is likely to lead to increased access to alcohol by these people, including cheap alcohol such as high strength ciders and lagers with negative health impacts. The statement also said that this could also see an increase in anti-social behaviours both locally outside and inside the supported accommodation.

Mr Grant, in his right to reply, stated that the licensing authority and public health had fallen into the forbidden trap of licensing, and that is asking the sub-committee to prefer speculative fears rather than actual evidence. He said that the evidence is that there are zero problems until midnight, and there is no evidence to suggest that come midnight everything is suddenly going to change. He also stated that public safety is the safety of a person when they're on the premises, not what happens when they leave. He noted that the residents have spoken in this case, and they do not share the fears of public health or licensing, with 38 of them putting pen to paper on the petition.

The sub-committee resolved to grant the application subject to the conditions detailed at pages 24 and 25 of the agenda pack, with the following variations:

Condition four, relating to super strength beer, lagers or ciders, would instead read LMC72, meaning no beers, ales, lagers or ciders of 6% ABV or above to be sold.
Condition nine, relating to self-service of miniature bottles or spirits, would instead read LMC74, meaning the premises shall not sell or supply miniature bottles of spirits of 50 millilitres or less.
Proposed condition 14, relating to staff training, would instead read that all staff members engaged or to be engaged in selling alcohol on the premises shall receive full training pertinent to the Licensing Act, WAVE⁴ or similar, specifically regarding age restricted sales and the refusal of sales to persons believed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and that this shall take place every 12 months.
Proposed condition 16, relating to SIA registered door staff, would instead read that SIA registered door staff shall be deployed at the premises subject to a risk assessment carried out by the DPS⁵, and when employed, door staff will wear high visibility armbands and assist with the dispersal of patrons from the premises, and that all risk assessments undertaken shall be retained for no less than six months and shall be provided on request to the police or licensing officer.

In addition to those conditions, the sub-committee proposed to add the following conditions:

From 11pm there should be at least two members of staff on duty at the premises until closing time.
Any CCTV breakdown or system failure will be notified to the police and local authority immediately and remedied as soon as practicable, and repair records and invoices shall be kept on site for at least 12 months and be readily available to be viewed by all authorized persons upon request.
LMC96, meaning that during the hours of operations of the premises, the license holder shall ensure sufficient measures are in place to remove and prevent litter or waste arising or accumulating from customers in the area immediately outside the premises, and that this area should be swept and or washed and litter and sweepings collected and stored in accordance with the approved refuse storage arrangements by close of business.

The sub-committee stated that with the inclusion of the agreed and additional conditions, the concerns raised by the objectors had been addressed, and that granting the application with those changes was both appropriate and proportionate.

Regulation 12 of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005 relates to the provision of notice and agenda ↩
SIA refers to the Security Industry Authority, the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry. ↩
ABV stands for alcohol by volume, and is a standard measure of how much alcohol is contained in a given volume of an alcoholic beverage. ↩
WAVE training is Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement training. ↩
DPS refers to the Designated Premises Supervisor. ↩

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Licensing Sub-Committee - Thursday 17 July 2025 7.00 pm

Summary

Deferred: Jungle Bar, 133 Stockwell Road

Approved: Quick Stop, 14 Acre Lane

Attendees

Topics

Meeting Documents

Subscribe to updates

Licensing Sub-Committee - Thursday 17 July 2025 7.00 pm

Transcript

Summary

Deferred: Jungle Bar, 133 Stockwell Road

Approved: Quick Stop, 14 Acre Lane

Attendees

Topics

Meeting Documents