Agenda item

To consider an application for a new premises licence.

Daliah Barrett, Licensing Officer, outlined the application for a new Premises Licence at Matizz Bar and Lounge, 83 Mayes Road, N22 6TN.  The application sought:

Opening hours

Sunday to Wednesday                   0700 to 0200

Thursday to Saturday                      0700 to 0400

Regulated Entertainment: Live Music, Recorded Music

Sunday to Wednesday                   1900 to 0100

Thursday to Saturday                      1900 to 0300

Late Night Refreshment

Sunday to Wednesday                   2300 to 0100

Thursday to Saturday                      2300 to 0300

Supply of Alcohol

Sunday to Wednesday                   1000 to 0100

Thursday to Saturday                      1000 to 0300

For consumption ON the premises.

Ms Barrett referred to the conditions offered by the Applicant at pages 21 and 22 of the report:

“Suitable beverages other than alcohol (including drinking water) shall be equally available for consumption with or otherwise as ancillary to table meals” – this was mandatory and therefore would be included on the licence.

“Should the premises remain open for non-licensable activities customer shall not have access to alcohol after the licensed hours.  This shall be prevented by the use of shutter / locked fridges” – this had been queried with the Applicant, as the premises should not be open outside the hours permitted.

“There shall be only recorded background music in the premises” – this conflicted with the application for live and recorded music.

“The external area at the front of the premises shall be designated for the use of smokers from 8:00 hours until closing time on 23:00.  There shall be no more than 1 persons using this designated area during these times.  The designated area shall be adequately supervised to control the number and behaviour of patrons so as not to cause noise nuisance.  Notices shall be displayed in the area specifying the terms of its use and asking patrons to respect the needs of local residents and to use the area quietly.  No alcoholic drinks or glass containers shall be taken into the designated smoking area during these times” – there was a rear area of the premises, but there had been no mention of this in the application, and no conditions put forward.

“No one under the age of 18 years shall be permitted to enter the premises and served with alcohol unless accompanied by an adult” – no one under the age of 18 should be sold alcohol, with the exception of those over the age of 16 and ancillary to a meal.

Representations had been received from Enforcement Response, Metropolitan Police and local residents.

The premises had been subject to a review in December 2016, and the Committee had decided to reduce the opening hours and the hours for licensable activities.  The Applicant was proposing to operate to later hours than the current licence permitted.

George Roberts, Enforcement Response Officer, provided the representation on behalf of the Enforcement Response team.  There had been 62 noise complaints against the premises since 2009, and had been sent a number of letters from the noise team and licensing.  Mr Roberts requested that the premises closed no later than midnight, with regulated entertainment ceasing at 2330, due to the close proximity to residential premises.

Mark Greaves, Metropolitan Police, provided his representation against the premises.  There had been many issues of public nuisance and crime and disorder at the premises for many years, and the recommendation of the Metropolitan Police was for the premises to close at midnight, with regulated entreating ceasing at 2330, along with the addition of a number of conditions as set out in pages 34 and 35 of the agenda pack.

The Committee heard from three local residents, who made the following points:

-       Local residents had been subject to noise and anti-social behaviour from the premises for the past five years, and had brought a review against the premises in December 2016.

-       It was disappointing that, since the reduction in hours, a new licence application for longer hours had been submitted.

-       The Applicant had not demonstrated how they would deal with nuisance to neighbours.

The Applicant, Mr Anil Gocen, presented his application for a new premises licence.  He explained that he was aware of the issues experienced in the past, but that the premises would be run by new management and measures taken to deal with any potential issues.  The premises would not be a late night ‘disco’ but a venue with live acoustic music, and a restaurant / lounge.

In response to questions from the Committee, Mr Gocen confirmed that he had a business relationship with the old management in that they were the leaseholders of the premises.  He also explained that works had been carried out to soundproof the premises, and that qualified security staff would be employed to deal with patrons.

Daliah Barrett referred to the plan at page 25 of the agenda pack and questioned whether the Applicant had removed the side gate from the rear garden.  The Applicant explained that it was still planned to use the exit.  The Committee’s Legal Advisor, Khumo Matthews, advised that due to the plans being incorrect that it would be appropriate for the Committee to adjourn the hearing so as to allow for the correct plans to be provided.

RESOLVED that the hearing be adjourned to a later date.