The Licensing Sub-Committee (2) was scheduled to meet to consider four licensing applications. These included one new premises licence, and three applications to vary existing licenses. Councillor Maggie Carman, Deputy Cabinet Member - Adult Social Care, Supported and Specialist Housing, was scheduled to chair the meeting.

Licensing Applications

Unit 12, Piccadilly Circus Station

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Unit 12 at Piccadilly Circus Station, submitted by London City Foods Ltd. The application was for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises between 11:00 and 23:00, and until 21:00 on Sundays.

The report pack noted that the premises is a small kiosk providing essential goods and services to the public. The location is within the West End Cumulative Impact Area¹, and therefore policies CIP1, HSR1 and SHP1 of the City of Westminster Statement of Licensing Policy apply.

Karyn Abbott, representing the Licensing Authority, made a representation that the application should comply with policy SHP1 clause C 3, which states:

The licensable activity of the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises must be an ancillary function to the primary use of the premises unless that primary use is to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises, e.g. a traditional off licence.

The Licensing Authority also requested further submissions as to what alcohol would be sold at the premises, and encouraged the applicant to consider model conditions MC17, MC29, MC30, MC31 and MC32.

PC Steve Muldoon, representing the Metropolitan Police Service, objected to the application, stating that granting the licence would undermine the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective. He noted that the premises is within a cumulative impact zone known for crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour, and expressed concern that granting the application would likely increase street crime and street drinking.

Fabiola Kouadio, representing the Environmental Health Service, also made a representation, stating that the provision of the supply of alcohol and the hours requested would likely cause an increase in public nuisance in the area and may impact upon public safety. This representation was to be withdrawn if the applicant agreed to certain conditions, including the installation and maintenance of a CCTV system, the operation of a Challenge 25 proof of age scheme², and the keeping of an incident log.

Correspondence between the applicant and the Licensing Authority is included in the report pack.

Eureka, 46 Warwick Way

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application to vary the premises licence for Eureka, a shop and off licence at 46 Warwick Way. The applicant, Dhavalkumar Trivedi, sought to vary the hours for the retail sale of alcohol and the opening hours to Sunday to Wednesday from 10:00 to 23:00 and Thursday to Saturday from 10:00 to 01:00, to vary conditions 13 and 27, and to remove condition 29.

The premises is within the Victoria Special Consideration Zone³, and therefore policy SCZ1 of the City of Westminster Statement of Licensing Policy applies.

Stephanie Appiah-Anderson, representing the Environmental Health Service, initially made a representation that the extension of opening hours would likely cause an increase in public nuisance within the Victoria Special Consideration Zone and may impact on public safety. Following agreement of further conditions, the Environmental Health Service withdrew their representation on 18 June 2025. The agreed conditions appear at appendix 4.

PC Steve Muldoon, representing the Metropolitan Police Service, also initially objected to the application, stating that it was likely that if the application were to be granted, the premise would undermine the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective. Following a reduction in hours, the Metropolitan Police withdrew their representation on 12 June 2025.

A local resident objected to the proposed changes, stating that the proposed hours are significantly beyond the core hours allowed for an off-licence, and that the application makes no reference to the extra risks identified within the Victoria Special Consideration Zone.

Kung Fu Mama, 80 Long Acre

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Kung Fu Mama, a restaurant at 80 Long Acre. The applicant, Kung Fu Mama Ventures Ltd, originally applied for late night refreshment until 23:30 Monday to Thursday and until 00:00 Friday to Saturday, and for the retail sale of alcohol from 09:00 to 23:30 Monday to Thursday, from 09:00 to 00:00 Friday to Saturday, and from 09:00 to 22:30 on Sundays. The applicant has since withdrawn the application for late night refreshment and reduced the hours for retail sale of alcohol and opening hours.

The premises is within the East Covent Garden Special Consideration Zone, and therefore policy SCZ of the City of Westminster Statement of Licensing Policy applies.

Maxwell Koduah, representing the Environmental Health Service, made a representation that the hours requested to provide late night refreshment and to supply alcohol may have the likely effect of increasing public nuisance and impact on public safety within the area.

Two local residents also objected to the application, with one expressing concern about the hours of opening and the area becoming very busy with eating outlets, making it difficult to get a good night's sleep.

Dear Darling, 91 Jermyn Street

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application to vary the premises licence for Dear Darling, a night club at 91 Jermyn Street. The applicant, Black Door 91 Limited, sought to increase the capacity of the basement floor to 160 and the total premises capacity to 320 by amending condition 21.

Anil Drayan, representing the Environmental Health Service, raised a representation as the proposal may undermine the licensing objectives of public safety and prevention of public nuisance.

PC Steve Muldoon, representing the Westminster Police Licensing Team, also objected to the application, stating that the location has seen a number of offences in the last 12 months so it would be a concern that there would be an additional near 100 customers with no additional measures to ensure the licensing objectives are upheld. Following submission of a minor variation to add an amended ID condition (condition 32) the Metropolitan Police withdrew their representation on 9 July 2025.

A local resident objected to the application, stating that the nightclub has been a significant source of very late night noise, and that the noise is highly disruptive to residents, and I would expect this to become much worse if venue capacity is increased.

In response to the representation from the interested party, the applicant provided a traffic management plan.