Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest, identified in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine: whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

Members are also reminded to declare the nature of the interest at the earliest opportunity and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it is the Members’ responsibility to identify any interests and also update their register of interest form as required by the Code.

If in doubt as to the nature of an interest, you are advised to seek advice prior the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services.

Councillor Suluk Ahmed declared a personal interest in agenda item 3.2, on the basis that the premise was in his ward (Spitalfields and Banglatown).

The rules of procedure were noted.

This item was withdrawn by the applicant prior to the meeting.

At the request of the Chair, Ms Corinne Holland, Licensing Officer introduced the report which detailed an application by Quiz Room UK Ltd. for a premises licence in respect of the Quiz Room, Ground Floor, Brody House,19-25 Bell Lane, London E1 7LA.

The application sought: -

Sale of Alcohol (On sales only)

Monday – Saturday 11:00 – 22:45 hours

Sunday 11:00 – 20:45 hours

Regulated Entertainment: Films and Recorded Music (indoors),

Monday – Saturday 11:00 – 23:00 hours

Sunday 11:00 – 21:00 hours

It was noted that the application received representations against it from the Licensing Authority, the Environmental Health Team and local residents. These were predominantly based upon the Premises’ location within the Brick Lane Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) and that the applicant had not rebutted the presumption against the grant of the licence. The responsible authorities and residents asserted that the application would negatively impact upon the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance.

The Sub-Committee was informed that the applicant had reached an agreement with the police as to the hours and conditions. It was also noted that a robust set of conditions had been offered by the applicant.

At the request of the Chair, Ms. Lana Tricker, solicitor for the applicant repeated what was set out on pages 3 to 6 of the supplementary agenda by way of the background to the application, what the business sought to achieve, how it proposed operating, and the measures adopted to ensure that the licensing objectives were upheld such as soundproofing of the premises. It was noted that the application was amended to reduce the terminal hour for alcohol sales on Mondays to Saturdays to 21:30 hours, and on Sundays to 19:30 hours.

It was noted that the maximum capacity of the premises will be 90 people. There were 5 rooms for quiz activities, each room accommodating up to 18 players, with each team-based quiz session lasting up to an hour to 1½ hours long. Ms Tricker explained that the quizzes will be played by patrons standing at electronic consoles on podiums answering questions using a buzzer.

Although there will be background music which is not licensable, quiz questions will feature music and film clips. The applicant explained that winners of the quiz get to come back and play for free on the next visit, and a free tee shirt. It was confirmed that alcohol sales will be ancillary to participation of the quiz games and there would only be a small selection of alcoholic. It was also noted that food and beverages would be served in the reception area.

Ms Tricker explained that 90% of the games would be prebooked and envisaged them to be corporate events.  The applicant would not be encouraging hen or stag events. Ms. Tricker presented that the applicant had invested money into the premises, for multimedia upgrades, soundproofing and acoustic works, and that sound testing had been undertaken in relation to residential premises above the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.2

The Sub Committee may be requested to extend the decision deadline for applications to be considered at forthcoming meetings due to the volume of applications requiring a hearing.  Where necessary, details will be provided at the meeting.