At the request of the Chair, Mr Nick Kemp, Licensing Officer, introduced the report which detailed the application for a new premises license for Café Pont, Block D, Unit 5, 14 Hertsmere Road, London E14 4AF. It was noted that an objection had been received by a local resident.

At the request of the Chair, Mr Peter Glazebrook, Counsel for the applicant explained that they were applying for the same terms as a previous licence which was granted for the premises when trading as Café Beluga. 

He explained that Café Pont would be different and independent from other café bars, It would be food driven with alcohol as an ancillary and had 40/50 covers. He also mentioned that there may have been some confusion as the objector may have felt that the entertainment license would be used to play music in outside area of the café, however he confirmed that the regulated entertainment would only be used for background music inside the premises.

Mr Glazebrook then introduced Tomas Haworth, the Designated Premises Supervisor for Café Pont, he explained that he had 10 years of experience in the restaurant trade. It was highlighted that no regulated body had objected to the application or raised any concerns or complaints.

It was noted that the times of the opening hours, sale of alcohol and regulated entertainment was incorrectly detailed in the licensing report on page 16 of the agenda. The applicant confirmed that the times should reflect what was detailed in the original application in appendix 1 of the report.

The Chair reported that the objector was not present at the meeting and therefore Members noted and considered the written objection detailed on page 51 of the agenda.

In response to questions, the following was noted, that very light background music would be played during breakfast hours, that windows and doors would be shut however during the summer these might be left open, that background music would not be used for the seating area outside the premises and it was confirmed the outside area associated with the premises would be used for dining as is done currently.

In response to a question, Mr Haworth stated that he did not want to restrict customers from using the outside area associated with the premises area, he explained the bar next door to the premises, did have a sign up asking customers not to use the outside area after 23:30 hours, however this was a voluntary agreement without any conditions/restrictions on the license. It was noted that the applicant would like the background music to remain playing until the closing time. Mr Haworth did not feel that premises being opened till the hours applied for would cause great disturbance to local residents. 

Mr Glazebrook explained that the applicant would operate the same terms as his predecessor and had strong stringent measures in place to prevent the concerns of local residents in terms of public nuisance.

The Chair advised that the Sub Committee would at 6.45pm adjourn to consider the evidence presented. Members reconvened at 7.10pm. The Chair reported that;

Having heard from the applicant and taking in the views of the objector, Members decided to grant the application, with conditions, based on the licensing objective of the prevention of public nuisance. 

RESOLVED

That the new application for Café Pont, Block D, Unit 5, 14 Hertsmere Road, London E14 4AF be GRANTED, with the following conditions;

Sale of Alcohol (on and off sales)

Monday to Saturday from 10:00 hours – 23:00 hours

Sunday from 11:00 hours – 22:30 hours

The Provision for Regulated Entertainment

(For recorded music and anything like recorded music)

Monday to Saturday from 07:00 hours – 23:30 hours

Sunday from 07:00 hours – 23:00 hours

Hours Premises is Open to the Public

Monday to Saturday from 07:00 hours – 23:30 hours

Sunday from 07:00 hours – 23:00 hours

Conditions

1. The outside area associated with the premises be closed and free of customers by 23:00 hours on Mondays to Saturdays and by 22:30 hours on Sundays.

2. No music should be audible outside the premises above the background level at any time.

3. Prominent and clearly legible notices shall be displayed at all exists of the premises requesting patrons to respect the needs of local residents and to leave the premises and area quietly.