Issue - meetings

To consider an application to allow Provision of Regulated Entertainment, Provision of Late Night Refreshment and Supply of Alcohol at the premises.

The Committee received the application for a Premises Licence Variation by Greene King Retailing Limited in respect of The Nelson, 232 High Road, Wood Green, London, N22 8HH, as set out in the agenda pack.

The Committee noted the statement by  Mr Jonathan Smith, Solicitor on behalf of the Applicant, including the following:

·        The Application sought additional hours for recorded music and entertainment but already had a licence to supply alcohol until half an hour before closing time.

·        The Applicant had agreed to the conditions suggested by the Noise Enforcement Team except for the condition limiting the number of people outside the premises smoking at any one time to eight. It would be very difficult to distinguish between patrons and passing traffic and could also displace smokers into residential areas.

·        The rear door of the premises would be closed at 22:30 hrs and patrons would be required to use the front entrance.

·        The Licensee, Mr William Cook, offered local residents a telephone number with which they could contact him directly if they had any future complaints.

In response to questions put to Mr Smith by the Panel it was noted that the premises did not use any specific sound monitoring equipment and the ratio of door supervisors (1 supervisor per 100 patrons) was the standard requirement.

The Committee received the statement of the Environmental Health Officer, Mr Eubert Malcolm, as laid out in the agenda pack, including that the noise service had witnessed two incidents of the premises breaching its licence in October 2010 and a caution had been given.

In response to questions put to Mr Malcolm by the Panel and interested parties it was noted that no complaints had been received regarding noise emitted from the front of the premises and there had been no complaints to the Council’s anti-social behaviour team and the premises had installed filters on the air conditioning ducts to reduce noise nuisance.

A resident in attendance highlighted that he had made a complaint at the weekend (30^th January 2011) regarding loud music at 02:04 hrs but it had taken 50 minutes for the resident to get through to the call centre by which time the music had ceased.

The Committee heard statements from interested parties (local residents and Councillor Pat Egan) objecting to the application on the grounds that extending the licence would exacerbate the problems of noise disturbance and anti-social behaviour from people using the premises.  Residents complained that patrons could not be controlled once they left the premises and their unruly behaviour affected the quality of life of residents. 

Having heard the representations of the interested parties, Mr Smith proposed that the Application be amended so that no change to opening hours be sought and the variations for the provision of regulated entertainment, live and recorded music and provision of entertainment facilities be contained within the current opening hours.  He also proposed that a noise limiter be installed within the premises.

The Panel heard the summary statements from all parties  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31