Agenda item

The licensing officer reported that condition 33 had been amended to allow access to the laundry facilities. 

The applicant’s representative reported that a previous application had been refused.  This was a revised application and following amendments only two resident objections had been received.  Police conditions had been accepted.  It was stated that there could be an argument that there would be a reduction in the cumulative impact should the licence be granted as currently patrons could buy alcohol from a local off licence and drink outside.  Alcohol had been banned from the premises.  Patrons would use the bar in the kitchen area and would not be allowed to drink on the outside terrace.  Residents could ring the hostel reception if there were any incidents and patrons would be barred from the premises if they had two warnings.  No under 18s were allowed on the premises unless they were with a responsible adult.  There was no application for off sales or for late night refreshment.  Patrons were not allowed to drink in their room.  This was a hotel type premises.  Passports were necessary for hotel bookings.  The premises would be monitored by CCTV.  The applicant’s representative considered that with conditions, limited hours and with no objection from the responsible authorities the licence should be granted.  He considered that it would not add to the cumulative impact.

In response to questions it was noted that condition 34 was amended to read ‘alcoholic’ drinks and conditions 16 and 17 would be deleted to avoid duplication. 

RESOLVED

1)       That the application for a new premises licence, in respect of Home London, 54-58 Caledonian Road, N1 9DP, be granted to allow:-

a)     The supply of alcohol, for consumption on the premises from 4pm until midnight Monday to Sunday.

b)     Opening hours of 4pm until half past midnight in the licensed area, Monday to Sunday.

2)       That conditions outlined in appendix 3 and detailed on pages 72-74 of the agenda shall be applied to the licence with the following amendments:-

·        Condition 33 to read.  The outside terrace area shall be closed to guests at 20:00 save for access to the laundry facilities. 

·        Condition 34 to read.  No alcoholic drinks shall be permitted on the outside terrace at any time.

·        The deletion of conditions 16 and 17.

REASONS FOR DECISION

The Sub-Committee listened to all the evidence and submissions and read all the material. The Sub-Committee reached the decision having given consideration to the Licensing Act 2003, as amended, and its regulations, the national guidance and the Council’s Licensing Policy.

The Sub-Committee took into consideration Licensing Policy 2.  The premises fall within the King’s Cross cumulative impact area.  Licensing policy 2 creates a rebuttable presumption that applications for a new premises licences that are likely to add to the existing cumulative impact will normally be refused, unless an applicant can demonstrate why the operation of the premises involved will not add to the cumulative impact or otherwise impact adversely on the promotion of the licensing objectives.

There were two local resident objections.  There had been no representations made by the responsible authorities.

The Sub-Committee noted that the hours sought were within the hours specified in licensing policy 8.

The Sub-Committee heard evidence that alcohol sales were only to hotel guests and for consumption by them on the premises.  The applicant agreed an amendment to condition 34 that patrons could not use the outside terrace to drink alcohol at any time.  CCTV would monitor the bar and the outside area.  A telephone number would be made available to residents and signs would be put up requesting patrons not to go into Keystone Crescent. 

The Sub-Committee concluded that thegranting of the new licence would not undermine the licensing objectives.

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that the premises would not add to the existing cumulative impact as the sale of alcohol would only be for patrons of the hostel to be consumed within the licensed area.  The concerns of residents had been addressed by the applicant and the Licensing Sub-Committee was satisfied that the agreed conditions would promote the licensing objectives.