Agenda item

The licensing officer reported that there were no representations from the responsible authorities.

The applicant’s representative advised that the application was for the restaurant area only, for an additional half an hour to allow for a second sitting in the restaurant. It was stated that for the previous application there had been 60 representations and these were now down to three for this application. The premises had worked with local residents before the application had been made.  The premises had allowed a Christmas party in December 2017 and this led to many of the complaints in the papers. There had also been one complaint this year relating to a delivery van at 5.30am but the van was not delivering to the premises.  It was noted that this was a good restaurant and many of the residents used it.

In response to questions it was noted that there was an open door policy for complaints and there was a concierge present.  They had good dialogue with residents. The applicant stated that they always closed on time.  The CCTV would evidence this and it was considered that there would be more complaints if they had not closed on time.

RESOLVED

1)     That the application for a premises licence variation, in respect of For a Space, 71 Central Street, EC1V 8BU, be granted to allow:-

1)         The sale of alcohol, on supplies, from 10am to 11pm Monday to Saturday and from 10am to 10.30pm on Sundays. 

2)         Opening hours to be:-  10am to 11.30pm Monday to Saturday from 10am until 11.00pm on Sundays.

3)         To add off supplies for the restaurant area. 

2)     That conditions detailed on page 115 of the agenda be applied to the licence.

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 Policies 2 & 3.  The premises fall within the Bunhill cumulative impact area.  Licensing policy 3 creates a rebuttable presumption that applications for the grant or variation of premises licences which are likely to add to the existing cumulative impact will normally be refused following the receipt of representations, unless the applicant can demonstrate in the operation schedule that there will be no negative cumulative impact on one or more of the licensing objectives.

Three local resident objections had been received.  There had been no representations made by the responsible authorities.

The Sub-Committee noted the concerns of interested parties and the submissions from the applicant that a large number of the issues raised related to a Christmas Party.  The applicant confirmed that this type of event would not be allowed in the future.  The applicant submitted that there was a good relationship with residents and there was a regular dialogue with the resident’s group.

The Sub-Committee noted that that the request to extend the premises licence was to allow for two sittings at the restaurant.  The Sub-Committee noted that the proposed hours of operation were within framework hours as set out in licensing policy 6.

The Sub-Committee concluded that the granting of an additional 30 minutes for the sale of alcohol would have no negative cumulative impact on the licensing objectives.