The Licensing Sub Committee was scheduled to convene to consider a temporary event notice, note the rules of procedure, and potentially extend the decision deadline for applications to be considered at future meetings. The meeting was scheduled to be held at the Tower Hamlets Town Hall¹.

Temporary Event Notice for Studio 1.1 Gallery

The Licensing Sub Committee was scheduled to consider an application for a temporary event notice (TEN) for Studio 1.1 Gallery at 57a Redchurch Street, London E2 7DJ.

Background

Keran Roger James applied for the TEN, describing the nature of the event as:

We hold openings of new exhibitions once a month as part of Whitechapel Gallery's First Thursdays events timetable. (The openings last from 6pm to 9pm on the first Thursday of each month)

The licensable activities applied for were the sale by retail of alcohol (on and off sales). The notice was given on 19 July 2025, with responsible authorities notified on 21 July 2025. The date applied for was Thursday, 7 August 2025, from 18:00 hrs to 21:00 hrs. The report pack noted that the venue does not hold a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003².

Objections

Environmental Protection raised an objection, which was included in the report pack, stating they had received complaints of persistent anti-social behaviour linked to 57A Redchurch Street (Studio1.1). One resident was quoted as saying:

This premises regularly hosts gatherings where alcohol is consumed, during which the road and pavements on Redchurch Street are completely obstructed. These events have been taking place over an extended period

Another complaint stated that a party held at the art gallery on Thursday, 10th July, blocked pavements, obstructed mosque entrances, generated excessive noise that disrupted evening prayers, and left alcohol and soft drinks cans and bottles on the doorstep of the Mosque.

Environmental Protection stated that the application, as it stands, fails to comply with the objective of the Licensing Act 2003 relating to public nuisance due to noise breakout from the venue and access and egress to and from the venue, especially due to patrons likely to be in high spirits and large groups of patrons congregating on Redchurch Street.

Keran James responded to the Environmental Protection representation, stating that the photos submitted showing the street blocked and drinking on the pavement also show that the gallery was closed and the door padlocked. They added that the groups of people seemed to be stretching some way down Redchurch Street, and that this is simply not the kind of event they hold.

Keran James stated that Studio 1.1 is a small contemporary art gallery which has been part of the cultural life of Tower Hamlets since 2003, and that in common with art galleries, when an exhibition opens they have a reception which in their case can include between thirty and eighty visitors. They stated that overwhelmingly these will be drawn from their mailing list, and that there will be some moderate drinking, of wine or lager in bottles (never cans).

Keran James stated that for twenty years they have done their best to respect their neighbours in the mosque next door, and that at the end of any event they make sure the pavement in front of the mosque is clear. They added that their event on July 10 was exceptionally busy because it was a fund-raiser for Gaza which had attracted great support, and that it was a hot evening and for once visitors on the pavement straggled along the mosque pavement. They stated that they believe that stating anyone was hindered from going into the mosque is untrue.

Other Matters

• The Sub Committee was scheduled to note the rules of procedure, as set out in the Premises License Procedure 2017-18.
• The Sub Committee may have been requested to extend the decision deadline for applications to be considered at forthcoming meetings due to the volume of applications requiring a hearing.
• The Declarations of Interest Note reminded members to consider the categories of interest, identified in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take.