Here is a summary of the items scheduled for discussion at the Licensing Sub Committee A meeting. The meeting was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for the Grand Empire at 108-110 Rushey Green SE6 4HW, and to note the minutes of a previous meeting. Councillors were also asked to declare any interests they had in the agenda items.

Grand Empire, 108-110 Rushey Green SE6 4HW

The Sub Committee was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for the Grand Empire, submitted by Empire Lounge Services Ltd.

The applicant requested permission to provide:

• Live and recorded music from 12:00 to 01:30 Monday to Wednesday, 12:00 to 02:30 Sunday and Thursday, and 12:00 to 03:30 Friday and Saturday.
• Late night refreshment from 23:00 to 01:30 Monday to Wednesday, 23:00 to 02:30 Sunday and Thursday, and 23:00 to 03:30 Friday and Saturday.
• Alcohol for consumption on and off the premises from 10:00 to 01:30 Monday to Wednesday, 10:00 to 02:30 Sunday and Thursday, and 10:00 to 03:30 Friday and Saturday.

The applicant also requested an additional hour on the Sunday of a bank holiday weekend and to be able to operate from the end of permitted hours on New Years Eve to the start of permitted hours on the following day.

The Public reports pack included the new premises licence application, the current premises licence, objections from the police, the Licensing Authority and Councillor James-J Walsh, and the applicant's response to Councillor James-J Walsh's objections.

The Licensing Authority's objection stated that the premises is a large three-storey building on Rushey Green, and that a site visit had been carried out on 12 September 2025. The report noted that the building appeared to comprise five distinct and separate areas:

• Front Ground Floor – the main restaurant/bar area
• Rear Yard Area – assumed to be for deliveries
• Rear Ground Floor – designated for private events
• First Floor – currently used for storage, future use to be determined
• Second Floor – a bar area with external rooftop space

The Licensing Authority stated that the plans submitted with the application did not fully represent the business model or current/future layout of the premises, and that additional conditions would be required to uphold the licensing objectives¹, particularly around public nuisance.

Councillor James-J Walsh, Rushey Green ward councillor, also objected to the application, stating that it would undermine all four licensing objectives. Councillor James-J Walsh stated that Rushey Green and Catford town centre are established hotspots for alcohol and drug-related anti-social behaviour, and that the proposed hours would significantly worsen risks of crime and disorder. Councillor James-J Walsh also raised concerns about public nuisance, public safety and the protection of children from harm, and suggested a number of stringent conditions that should be imposed if the Licensing Committee was minded to grant a licence.

The Metropolitan Police also objected to the application, stating that the applicant and their agent seemed unclear on what this venue actually is, and that it would undermine the licensing objectives and greatly affect the local residences and the quality of their lives.

The report pack included a response from Dadds LLP, Licensing Solicitors, on behalf of the applicant, which stated that the Grand Empire already holds a premises licence and has operated without review or evidence of contributing to crime or disorder, and that the application proposes a comprehensive suite of conditions, including SIA-registered door staff, CCTV coverage, and an incident log.

The report pack also included photographs of the premises taken during the site visit.

The licensing committee was reminded of the steps available to them, which were to:

1.) Grant the application as applied for 2.) Grant the application subject to conditions modified to such extent as the authority considers appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives. 3.) Refuse to specify a person in the licence as the designated premises supervisor 4.) Refuse to grant the application.

Declarations of Interest

Councillors were asked to declare any personal interest they had in any item on the agenda. The Declarations of interest document reminded councillors that they must declare any registerable interest they have in a matter, and that if the matter is a disclosable pecuniary interest² the member must take no part in consideration of the matter and withdraw from the room before it is considered.

Minutes

The Sub Committee was scheduled to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 27 August 2025. The minutes included a discussion of an application for Blackheath Fireworks, Blackheath Common, London SE3 0TY, and an application for Fourteen87 7 Catford Broadway SE6 4SP, which was withdrawn.