Agenda item
Application for a Variation to the Premises Licence for W B Spitalfields Ltd, 8-9 Lamb Street, London, E1 6EA.
Minutes:
At the request of the Chair, Mr Mohshin Ali, Senior Licensing Officer, introduced the report which detailed the application for a variation of the premises licence for WB Spitalfields Ltd, 8-9 Lamb Street, London E1 6EA. It was noted that objections have been received from local residents.
It was noted that there had been a representation that has been omitted from the agenda. The Chair asked if the applicant was happy to accept this representation at late notice. The representation was accepted and noted by the Applicant and Members.
At the request of the Chair, Mr Jack Speigler, Legal Representative stated that the application was to vary the application to extend the outside area to allow for 4 tables and 8 chairs to be placed outside for dining. It was noted that the premises was a premium sea food restaurant and amendments to the application had been made with a reduction in hours and conditions. It was noted that as a result of the conditions no responsible authorities had objected.
Members then heard from Robert Seldon, Applicant who gave a brief account of his experiences of managing restaurants for the past 25 years, he also explained that there would be two members of staff looking after the outside area, and had not had any problems or complaints from any of his other restaurants in Westminster and Soho.
It was noted that the whole purpose for licensing this extended area was for dining, there had not been any complaints so far and it was unlikely to have impact on policy area as it was not a late night premises, nor a new licence, it was a premium restaurant and not a bar.
Members then heard from Margaret Gordon, local resident who also spoke on behalf of residents who were unable to attend the meeting who had made objections. She expressed a number of concerns over the tables and chairs outside, access to the flats above the restaurant and general noise nuisance as a result of diners sitting outside the premises
Ms Gordon welcomed the reduced timings and stated that having 5-6 smokers outside the premises could get quite noisy. She asked if consideration can be made when putting out and putting in the chairs and tables.
Members raised concerns about the tables and chairs outside the premises, public safety and noise nuisance. It was noted that the size of tables and chairs would be determined by the Council’s Streets and Markets Team.
Members retired to consider their decision at 8.30 pm and reconvened at 8.50 pm.
The Licensing Objectives
In considering the application, Members were required to consider the same in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 (as amended), the Licensing Objectives, the Licensing Guidance and the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy.
Consideration
Each application must be considered on its own merits and the Chair stated that the Sub Committee had carefully considered all of the evidence before them and had taken account of the evidence submitted by both the objector and the applicant.
Members noted the concerns of public nuisance raised by the objectors and that the premises was within the cumulative impact zone. Members were able to consider cumulative impact because of an increase to capacity, however small that increase was. Members noted the amendments to the application offered by the Applicant in the run up to the sub-committee hearing and the conditions proposed and agreed to by the Applicant at the hearing itself. Members were of the view that the application as amended promoted the licensing objectives and was sufficient to mitigate any potential impact in the cumulative impact zone in relation to the increase in capacity.
Members were satisfied that the variation would not have a detrimental cumulative impact in the area and therefore granted the application as amended with conditions which would promote the licensing objectives.
Decision
Accordingly, the Sub-Committee unanimously –
RESOLVED
That the application for a Variation of the Premises Licence for Wright Brothers Spitalfields Ltd, 8-9 Lamb Street, London E1 6EA be GRANTED with conditions.
To extend the area allowed for the sale of alcohol to the pavement outside the premises.
Sale of Alcohol (on sales only)
Monday to Saturday from 10:00 hours to 21:00 hours
Sunday from 12 noon to 21:00 hours
Conditions
- Any patrons that smoke after 21:00 hours will not be permitted to take any drinks out with them.
- No consumption of alcohol outside other than those seated and as part of a substantial meal.
- A maximum of 8 patrons to dine in the extended area at any one time.
- External dining to cease at 21:00 hours at which point the external dining area will be closed. The external dining area to be cleared of all furniture by 21:30 hours.
Supporting documents:
- Wright Brothers cover report, item 3.2 PDF 76 KB
- Wright Brothers Appendices Only, item 3.2 PDF 2 MB
- Representations - RE: W B Spitalfields Ltd, 8-9 Lamb Street, London, E1 6EA, item 3.2 PDF 134 KB