Agenda and minutes

Swingers, 15 John Prince’s Street, W1

17/08278/LIPN

1.

Late Night Refreshment (Indoors)

Amendments to application advised at hearing:

Mr Gouriet advised the Sub-Committee that his client had amended the proposed hours for licensable activities to the Council’s Core Hours (a terminal hour of 23:30 Monday to Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday and 22:30 on Sunday).

Decision (including reasons if different from those set out in report):

The Sub-Committee heard from Mr Gouriet.  He confirmed that the site of the premises was the former staff café at British Homes Stores.  The premises would operate as an indoor crazy/mini golf facility.  The Applicant was currently operating a similar venue in the City of London and had been given recent permission to operate a venue in Leadenhall Street.  The expected age range for indoor crazy/mini golf at 15 John Prince’s Street was 30-50 years of age in line with the City of London venue. 

Mr Gouriet said there would be at least two SIA licensed door supervisors employed at all times and there would be up to six door supervisors employed at peak periods.  Mr Simmonds in response to a question from the Sub-Committee stated that immediately opposite the premises were predominantly office tenants.  There were no residents directly opposite.  There were residents on the corner of Margaret Street and John Prince’s Street. 

Mr Gouriet made the point that the Phoenix pub in John Prince’s Street was able to operate until the early hours of the morning.  His client had decided to amend the proposed hours for licensable activities so that they were in keeping with the Council’s Core Hours policy.  His client was seeking a closing time to the public of half an hour after the licensable activities concluded.

Mr Gouriet described the operation on the first floor of the premises.  There were two 9 hole mini golf courses.  They were surrounded by table and chairs.  There were 450 seats on the first floor in total (Mr Gouriet requested that the capacity was finalised by the Senior Licensing Surveyor and Environmental Health).  Mr Gouriet advised that the purpose of coming to the premises was to play indoor golf with the majority booking to play.  50% of the business was corporate bookings.  It was possible to hire out the whole venue or the private areas.  Approximately 10% would be customers who had not booked in advance.  There would be up to 7 or 8 staff on both courses supervising  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Connaught Hotel, Carlos Place, W1

17/07945/LIPV

1.

Sale by retail of alcohol (On and Off)

Amendments to application advised at hearing:

The Applicant proposed a condition that there would be no off sales prior to 10:00.

Decision (including reasons if different from those set out in report):

The Applicant had applied by way of a variation of the premises licence to update the ground floor plans for the hotel following refurbishment work to the new restaurant known as Jean George @ The Connaught.  The Applicant now intended to have direct access to the pavement/street at the corner of Mount Street and Carlos Place.  This would allow guests to access the restaurant without passing through the hotel.  Councillor Glenys Roberts had submitted a written representation expressing concerns regarding the direct access for non-hotel residents, particularly during the later hours.  She had referred to the arrangement with the Connaught bar where visitors entering and leaving after midnight would be via the hotel lobby entrance only.

Mr Browning, addressing the Sub-Committee, stated that the Applicant was seeking to provide alcohol with a business breakfast between 07:00 and 10:00, including to non-hotel guests.  He advised he had written to Councillor Roberts on this point.  Conditions had been offered by the Applicant that there would be no off sales prior to 10:00 and that alcohol restricted to wines or champagnes may be served between 07:00 and 10:00 by waiter or waitress to non-hotel guests and the service of such alcohol will be ancillary to the supply of food.

Mr Browning was asked by the Sub-Committee about the access to the Jean George restaurant.  He advised that there was a security person covering the main entrance who would also be able to monitor the new access via the pavement/street at the corner of Mount Street and Carlos Place.  It was proposed that the entrance at the corner of Mount Street and Carlos Place would close at 01:00.  Mr Browning also confirmed there was access from the Jean George restaurant to the lobby of the Connaught Hotel. 

The Sub-Committee asked Mr Browning for his view on Councillor Roberts’ request that a similar arrangement was introduced for the corner of Mount Street and Carlos Place entrance as the Connaught bar where visitors entering and leaving after midnight would only be via the hotel lobby entrance only.  Mr Browning replied that his client did not wish to see restrictions on the use of the corner of Mount Street and Carlos  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.