The Licensing Sub-Committee of Hammersmith and Fulham Council met on Wednesday 15 April 2026 to consider a new premises licence application for Arianna Trattoria Romana at 787 Fulham Road, London SW6 5HD. The committee granted the licence with modified conditions, notably restricting the use of the rear garden area.

Arianna Trattoria Romana, 787 Fulham Road, London SW6 5HD

The committee considered an application for a new premises licence for Arianna Trattoria Romana, located at 787 Fulham Road, London SW6 5HD. The application, submitted by V A Trade Services Ltd, sought permission for the supply of alcohol (on and off-sales), and the playing of recorded music indoors, with proposed opening hours from 07:00 to 23:00 daily.

Numerous residents submitted objections, primarily focusing on concerns about noise, smell, and disturbance from the proposed use of the rear garden area. Residents, including Marco, Alexandra, Simon Rollings, and Marzia, expressed worries about noise from patrons using the garden, potential pest issues, and the impact on their quality of life and property values. Marzia specifically highlighted concerns about an unsecured external staircase leading to her bedroom, which she felt posed a security risk if the garden were used by patrons.

Gerardo Aprovitolo, the solicitor for the applicant, addressed these concerns. He initially proposed several additional conditions to mitigate public nuisance, including a music policy, restrictions on garden use and conduct, and measures for patron conduct. Crucially, he then offered to withdraw the use of the garden for commercial purposes entirely from the application. This offer was welcomed by the objectors.

Councillor Dominic Stanton, Opposition Whip, sought confirmation from the residents that they would be content for the licence to proceed without the garden use, to which they agreed. Councillor Stanton also clarified that the committee's decision would be based solely on the four licensing objectives and not on planning considerations or property values.

Following deliberation, the committee decided to grant the licence but with modifications. The key decision was to significantly restrict the use of the rear garden area. The garden can now only be used by patrons during specific hours: Monday to Friday from 12:30 to 19:00, and on weekends and bank holidays from 11:00 to 15:00. Outside these times, the garden must be clear of all patrons. The interior of the restaurant will be open for alcohol sales from 11:00 to 23:00 daily. Recorded music will be background music only, played at a low level indoors, with no amplified music proposed for the external garden area. A sign will be displayed at the entrance requesting patrons to leave quietly.

The Metropolitan Police, represented by PC Charlotte Bennett, had previously agreed to several conditions with the applicant, including that the premises would operate primarily as a restaurant with alcohol sales ancillary to food, no vertical drinking, installation of CCTV, staff training on the Licensing Act, an incident log, a Challenge 25 policy, and a safeguarding policy for vulnerable patrons. These conditions were incorporated into the final licence.

The committee noted that while licensing and planning are separate regimes, they should be aligned where possible. The applicant's solicitor, Gerardo Aprovitolo, also requested a prompt decision due to the financial burden of delaying the restaurant's opening.

The decision to grant the licence with these modified conditions aims to balance the applicant's desire to operate a restaurant with the residents' concerns about public nuisance and the protection of their amenity.