Agenda item

The licensing officer stated that conditions had been agreed with the responsible authorities and there had been nothing further to add to the report.

The applicant stated that this was an Italian grocery which sold fine foods from Italy. They would follow all proposed conditions, they had less than a 50 person capacity and would operate within framework hours, opening between 9 and 10am and closing by 8pm. Food was served at the table and they would like to serve fine wine, craft beer and drinks such as limoncello along with the food offering. They had a limited seating area and food would be available.  Staff would be trained in Challenge 25 and they had a good relationship with the local businesses and residents. They cared about the Angel area and were aware about the Licensing Policy.

In response to questions it was noted that private events would be pre-booked events and were mostly educational about the origins of cheese, wine and charcuterie. There would be no external public allowed.  They were never open before 7am, did not serve alcohol before 11am and always served food with alcohol.  The licence was required from 7am for off sales. There were between 12 and 25 people at the events and they could stop at 10pm if necessary.

In summary, this was a fine food grocery and the price point and quality of the product would not affect the cumulative impact.  Staff were aware of the licensing policy and were trained on the conditions. The restriction of hours to 8pm was good for the community and the applicant cared about the atmosphere of Camden Passage.

RESOLVED

1)     That the application for a new premises licence, in respect of Food All Lab, 19 Camden Passage, N1 8AE be granted to allow:-

a)   The supply of alcohol, on and off the premises, Monday to Sunday from 7am to 8pm.

b)   The premises to be open to the public, Monday to Sunday from 7am to 8pm.

2)     That conditions detailed on pages 74 to 77 of the agenda be applied to the licence.

REASONS FOR DECISION

This meeting was facilitated by Zoom.

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 Angel and Upper Street 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 operating schedule that there will be no negative cumulative impact on one or more of the licensing objectives.

The Sub-Committee took into consideration Licensing Policy 4.  The Council has adopted a special policy relating to cumulative impact in relation to shops and other premises selling alcohol for consumption off the premises.  Licensing policy 4 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 or subject to certain limitations, following the receipt of representations, unless the applicant can demonstrate in the operating schedule that there will be no negative cumulative impact on one or more of the licensing objectives.

Five local resident objections had been received as well as an objection from a ward councillor and a local business.  Conditions were agreed with the police, noise team and trading standards.

The Sub-Committee heard evidence that the premises would be run as an Italian grocery selling fine foods imported from Italy. The applicant confirmed that the premises had a capacity of less than 50 and that the premises would be opening between 9am and 10am and would close at 8pm. The applicant confirmed that they have a few tables and chairs and can seat ten people and would like to be able to sell fine wine, craft beer and some Italian liqueurs.

The applicant stated that alcohol would always be served with food and that the core business was a fine grocery. The premises had a very nice relationship with neighbouring businesses and residents and cared a lot about Angel. The applicant stated that if the premises held private events this would be for a maximum of 20-25 people and these would be pre-booked only. The price and quality of the alcohol offer should not affect the cumulative impact.

The Sub-Committee concluded that with the conditions agreed, the granting of the licence would not add to the cumulative impact and would promote the licensing objectives. The Sub-committee noted that a condition was agreed that off sales would always be ancillary to food and on sales would only be made to seated customers ordering a table meal.

The Sub-Committee concluded that the granting of the licence with the agreed conditions would promote the licensing objectives. The Sub-Committee noted that the proposed opening hours were within the hours specified in licensing policy 5 and 6.  The Sub-Committee was satisfied that the operating schedule demonstrated high standards of management and that the proposed use, with the extensive conditions agreed, meant that the premises would not add to the cumulative impact.

The Sub-Committee was satisfied that granting the premises licence was proportionate and appropriate to the promotion of the licensing objectives.