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WESTMINSTER CITY COUNCIL LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE NO.1 (“The Committee”)

Licensing Review Decision

Thursday 11 August 2022

Membership:           Councillor Aziz Toki (Chairman), Councillor Piddock and Councillor Caplan

W Hotel, Leicester Square, 10 Wardour Street, London, W1D 6QF (“Premises”) (22/06997/LIPDPS)

CASE SUMMARY

The Metropolitan Police (“Applicant”) have submitted an application for a Summary Review of the Premises Licence for the above Premises pursuant to Section 53A of the Licensing Act 2003 (the “Act”) on 18 July 2022 as the Police considered the Premises are associated with serious crime and serious disorder.

The Premises Licence Holder (PLH) of the Premises is W Leicester Square Limited (Operator).

The Interim Steps Hearing took place on 20^th July 2022, when the Committee imposed the following Interim Steps.

To modify the conditions of the Premises Licence:

a)    The sale of alcohol shall be restricted to hotel residents and up to 4 bona fide guests of each resident.

b)    The Removal of Dario Mazzoli as the DPS

The purpose of today’s hearing is to determine Preliminary Submissions in relation to Reg 14 of the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearing) Regulations 2005, the full Review by deciding whether it is appropriate and proportionate to take any steps to promote the licensing objectives and then to review the Interim Steps imposed on the 20^th July 2022.

Persons attending the hearing:

For the Metropolitan Police:      Mr James Rankin (Counsel for the Applicant)
                                                     PC Tom Stewart

                                                     PC Steve Muldoon

For the Premises Licence Holder (PLH):

·       Gary Grant – (Counsel for the Premises Licence Holder)

·       Joanna Chugh - Area Vice President, UK Ireland and Nordics

·       Stuart Bowery - Multi Property General Manager, JW Marriott Grosvenor House and W London Hotel

·       Tony Matthews - Multi Property Director of Loss Prevention, JW Marriott Grosvenor House and W London Hotel

·       Collin Ten Dam - Hotel Manager, W London

·       Karina Elias - Director of Food Beverage, JW Marriott Grosvenor House London (DPS Of W Hotel)

·       Dario Mazzoli - Director of Food Beverage, W London

·       Adrian Studd – Crime and Disorder Specialist

·       Marcus Lavell – Legal Representative for Premises Licence Holder

For Licensing Authority:  Karyn Abbott – Licensing Officer

Other Officers present:

The Legal Adviser              – Steve Burnett.

                                           The Presenting Officer       – Jessica Donovan;
                                           The Committee Officer       – Sarah Craddock

Activities and Hours

The Premises is a five-star hotel with associated restaurant, bar/lounge and meeting room areas which provides regulated entertainment: -

The hours are as stated on the existing Premises Licence.

The opening hours and times for licensable activities are Mondays to Sundays 24 hrs.

PRELIMINARY SUBMISSIONS

As a preliminary point, the Applicant has made a submission that the playing of the video footage as evidence at the hearing, should be done in private.

Mr Rankin on behalf of the Applicant submitted that there are still matters which are subject to live, ongoing criminal investigations in relation to numerous serious criminal offences. There are suspects still outstanding. It is therefore in the public interest not to show the video footage to the public.

The Applicant has no  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.