Agenda item

The applicant’s representative had stated that a meeting had been held with residents who raised concerns with the ground floor hours.  As a result, in respect of the ground floor, hours were reduced to 10.30 pm for the supply of alcohol.

The resident stated that the basement area would be an incubator for aspiring chefs with an entrance on Featherstone Street. In the planning consent the ground floor was described as a café and retail area with no mention of alcohol and had therefore received no objections.  The resident was concerned about a bar opening onto Featherstone Street, with vertical drinking and no restrictions on alcohol being ancillary to food.  He considered that conditions relating to no vertical drinking and alcohol being served ancillary with food be additions to the licence.  He would also like to see a condition added regarding waiter service on the ground floor and he considered that with these changes there would be less disturbance on the street. 

In response to questions, the resident stated he lived near to the venue and had bad experiences of the venue previously.  This was a restaurant and should be happy to accept these conditions. 

The applicant’s representative stated that there was a plan of the premises at page 262 of the agenda.  There were small kitchens and users would graduate to central kitchens. There was expected to be a named chef on the main table.  The ground floor was a café bar/juice bar and a feeder bar for the downstairs operation.  There was a condition to restrict vertical drinking on the ground floor.  This area may be used for wine tasting. This would not be a late night bar and some vertical drinking was important. They would be happy to agree to table service throughout the ground floor.

In response to questions it was noted that the applicant would be working with the local business programme and schools.

In summary, the resident considered that the basement operation was praiseworthy but was concerned about vertical drinking, alcohol being served without food, the lack of table service and asked that these be additional conditions to the licence. The applicant’s representative reminded the Sub-Committee that planning and licensing were separate regimes.

RESOLVED

1)     That the application for a new premises licence, in respect of The Long Table, Old Street Yard (fronting 32-37 Featherstone Street) EC1 be granted to allow:-

a)  The sale by retail of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises from 10am until 11pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am until 10.30 on Sundays and in respect of the ground floor 10am until 10.30 on Mondays to Sundays.

b)  Opening hours from 10am until 11.30pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am until 11pm on Sundays.    

2)     That conditions detailed on pages 269 and 270 of the agenda shall be applied to the licence.

REASONS FOR DECISION

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered the application papers, the written representations by residents, the oral submission by the Applicants’ representative and the oral submission by one resident.

The application was for a new premises licence within the Bunhill Cumulative Impact Area. The Licensing Sub-Committee noted that no representations had been made by the Responsible Authorities.

The business operated from the premises would be an enterprise and training company, providing a café and restaurant areas on the ground and lower ground floors. The hours requested were within the core hours and the off sales will be restricted to re-sealed bottles of wine.

The Licensing Sub-Committee was satisfied that the application if granted with the stipulated conditions, would fall within the exceptions to the Bunhill Cumulative Impact Policy. The Licensing Sub-Committee concluded that the business would support the wider cultural offer in the area, the hours were consistent with framework hours, and the application granted should not cause public nuisance or cause a negative cumulative impact.

The application granted with conditions was proportionate and reasonable taking all the representations into account.