Agenda item

The licensing officer stated that there were no residents present and that he had no updates for the sub-committee.

The applicant stated that Sophie Café was a newly established business. It would not be a drinking establishment and would be a café where customers could sit and enjoy a drink. He stated that he had tried to engage neighbours and they had not responded. He was willing to invite them to see how the café operated. He stated that the responsible authorities did not object. The applicant stated that a licence would help sustain the business and he was willing to continue to work with the licensing authority going forward.

In response to a member’s question about how the applicant had engaged with the concerns of neighbours, the applicant stated that he had removed the seating outside the café. The applicant stated that there would be minimal noise as the business was a café that would serve wine and there would be no music other than background music.

In summary, the applicant stated that his business had been affected by covid. This café would be run as a family business. The applicant stated that he had put in CCTV and that he understood the licensing objectives.

RESOLVED that the application for a new premises licence in respect of Sophie Café, 269 Caledonian Road, London be granted:-

1) to allow the sale by retail of alcohol for on and off sales from 12pm until 10.30pm Monday to Saturday and from 12pm until 10pm on Sundays.

2) the premises to be open to the public Monday to Saturday 8am until 11pm and Sundays 8am until 10.30pm.

Conditions detailed on pages 128 to 131 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 Kings Cross 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.

One local resident objection had been received.  There had been no representations made by the responsible authorities.

The Applicant was present and made oral submissions to the Licensing Sub-Committee.

The Licensing Sub-Committee also noted that the business was not alcohol led and that the agreed conditions provided that alcohol sold for consumption off the premises was only permitted when purchased with a main meal take away. The conditions further provided for a maximum purchase of alcohol with those take away meals.

The Sub-Committee noted that the hours sought 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 granting of the application will 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.