Agenda item
Application for a Variation of the Premises Licence for Ferry House, 26 Ferry Street, London E14 3DT
Minutes:
At the request of the Chair, Ms Kathy Driver, Principal Licensing Officer, introduced the report which detailed the application for a variation of the premises licence for Ferry House, 26 Ferry Street, London E14 3DT. It was noted that there had been objections from local residents, Environmental Health and a Freeholder. It was noted that the application was only for the 1st floor of the premises and that the application had been amended with a reduction in hours and some conditions had been agreed with Environmental Health.
At the request of the Chair, Mr Ben Allali, Applicant, briefly explained that he had an existing licence on the ground floor and wanted to extend the license to the first floor to primarily operate as a restaurant and therefore was happy to have a condition which restricted the sale of alcohol with food only. He also mentioned that he wished to reduce the hours applied for to Monday-Sunday 11am to 11pm and allowing 20 minutes drinking up time.
It was noted that regulated entertainment had been withdrawn and windows and doors would be shut after 9.30pm to address the noise concerns raised by residents.
Mr Allali, also explained that the premises was a listed building and had a balcony on the 1st floor and wanted that to be accessed by customers, when visiting the premises, it was noted that no consumption of alcohol or smoking would be allowed on the balcony and was happy to restrict the numbers to a maximum of 6-8 people at any one time and for use until 9.30pm.
Mr Allali concluded that there hadn’t been any complaints from residents about noise in the last year and that there were other licensed premises in the local area and that he wanted to move more towards becoming a restaurant then a pub.
Members then heard from Mr Phil Crier, representing the Ferry House LLP Freeholders, Councillor Peter Golds, representing Deni Butterfield and Ian Wareing, Environmental Health who all expressed similar concerns of public nuisance and noise nuisance, and fears that it would become a drinking establishment the same as the ground floor and therefore strongly suggested that if a licence were to be granted conditions be set restricting the sale of alcohol with food only and to have no use of the balcony area. It was also noted that the premises had been closed since February 2014 hence why there had been no complaints.
In response to questions the following was noted;
· That the applicant was happy to have a condition that restricted the sale of alcohol to be only served to customers with a meal.
· That the balcony area would be policed by members of staff, ensuring there was no smoking or nuisance being caused.
· That the applicant was happy to reduce hours for the use of the balcony
· That there would be no vertical drinking on the first floor
· That only customers wishing to have a meal would be guided to the 1st floor area.
· It was noted that there was a capacity for 52 people on the 1st floor.
Members retired to consider their decision at 7.15pm and reconvened at 7.25 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 Home Office 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 heard representations for all interested parties.
Members heard representations and considered the licensing objective for the prevention of public nuisance. It was noted that the objections mainly related to the use of the balcony area and its close proximity to residents homes and its impact. Members welcomed the withdrawal of the regulated entertainment and reduction in hours. Members believed that specific conditions restricting the sale of alcohol with food only and the restriction for the use of the balcony area would help address the concerns raised by residents.
Members had reached a decision and this decision was unanimous. Members decided to grant the application as amended and added conditions offered by the applicant and those agreed with Environmental Health.
Decision
Accordingly, the Sub-Committee unanimously –
RESOLVED
That the application for a Variation of the Premises Licence for, Ferry House, First Floor, 26 Ferry Street, London E14 3DTbe GRANTED with conditions.
First Floor
Sale of Alcohol (on and off sales only)
Monday to Sunday from 11:00 hours to 23:00 hours
Hours Premises is open to the Public
Monday to Sunday from 11:00 hours to 23:20 hours
Non-standard times
New Years Eve from 23:00 hours to 11:00 on New Years Days
Conditions
- Alcohol to be only served to seated customers and ancillary to a meal.
- No access to the balcony at any time by customers or members of staff.
- Maximum capacity on the 1st Floor to be 52 people at any one time.
- Windows and doors to be closed after 21:30 hours
Supporting documents: