Here is a summary of the agenda for the Licensing Sub-Committee meeting on 29 July 2025. Councillors Bob Chattaway, Muhammed Javed and Jamal Uddin were scheduled to consider procedure for licensing hearings and a decision regarding two temporary event notices (TENs) that had been submitted for The Nightingale, 51 Nightingale Lane, Wanstead, E11 2EY ¹. The sub-committee was also scheduled to discuss a motion to exclude the public.

The Nightingale - Temporary Event Notices

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider two TENs submitted by Chris Vassiliou, Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) for The Nightingale.

The first TEN was for licensable activities on Saturday 2 August 2025, from 20:00 to 23:00, and requests the provision of regulated entertainment. The report pack describes the nature of the event as:

the Nightingale pub, situated within the bar's main area. DJ to be set up in the corner of main bar area. Non licensable activity to be in the form of live recorded music. Sound limiter in place set by noise team, extra staff in place to adhere to licence conditions along with SIA staff. Event to finish by 11pm in respect of neighbours.

The second TEN was for licensable activities on Saturday 9 August 2025, from 20:00 to 23:00, and also requests the provision of regulated entertainment. The report pack describes the nature of the event as being the same as the first TEN.

The report pack states that the Community Protection Task Force (CPTF), acting as Environmental Health (Noise), submitted an objection notice against both events, because they believed that the licensing objective of the prevention of public nuisance would be undermined.

According to the report pack, under Section 100 of the Licensing Act 2003 ², events do not have to be authorised by the Licensing Authority. Instead, the premises user notifies the event to the Licensing Authority, local authority exercising environmental health functions and police prior to the event taking place.

The report pack recommends that the sub-committee consider the report, and having due regard to the statutory guidance issued by the Home Office, the Licensing Act 2003, and all other written and oral information, decide whether to:

• Allow the Temporary Events to take place;
• Allow the Temporary Event to take place with some or all of the existing premises licence conditions imposed; or
• Issue a Counter Notice

Objections

The report pack includes copies of the objections from Yashin Isa, Team Leader - Community Protection Taskforce. The CPTF objected to both TENs, stating that they had recently allowed TENs to take place at The Nightingale PH and had received numerous complaints regarding the level of the music, despite the noise limiter being in place. The objection goes on to state that the venue is only permitted to have background music at this time and as there is mention of a DJ at the venue for this event it is classed as a regulated entertainment event and it will significantly increase the level of the music from the venue resulting in potential noise nuisance issues. The CPTF also noted that as part of their licence there is no regulated entertainment that is allowed and therefore having a DJ at the venue is something that is not in accordance with their licence. The Nightingale PH are also not allowed to have patrons outside their premises in the garden area after 2200 Hours as part of their licencing conditions and this has been reinforced to them on numerous occasions and the CPTF had received reports in recent weeks that they have breached these conditions alongside having tables and chairs outside their premises which is also a breach of their licensing conditions.

Premises Licence

The report pack includes a redacted copy of the premises licence for The Nightingale PH Ltd, which states that live and recorded music shall be removed as a licensable activity from the licence and that there shall be no live or recorded music played or performed at the premises at any time. The licence also states that customers are not permitted to remove open containers of alcohol or other drinks from the premises, or be permitted to consume alcohol or other drinks bought within the premises, outside the premises after 22:00. The licence also states that no more than 10 patrons shall be permitted to use the smoking or garden areas at any time after 22:00 hours.

Temporary Event Notice limitations

The council's statement of licensing policy outlines the council's approach to Temporary Event Notices. Temporary Event Notices (TEN's) are not licences, but notices served on the Licensing Authority that an event is going ahead. Only the Police and the Council's Environmental Health Team can object to a Temporary Event Notice, though they may object on any of the four licensing objectives. Conditions cannot be imposed to Temporary Event Notices. However, where licensed premises give a TEN and the Police or the Anti-Social Behaviour Team object, the Licensing Sub-Committee may decide the existing conditions on the licence remain in effect during the period of the TEN. The only other alternative to the Licensing Sub-Committee where there are objections to a TEN is to refuse the application.