Agenda and minutes

Licensing Sub-Committee (6) - Wednesday 5th March, 2025 10.00 am

Venue: Rooms 18.01 - 18.03 - 18th Floor, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP. View directions

Contact: Sarah Craddock, Committee and Councillor Co-ordinator  Email:  scraddock@westminster.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Membership

To report any changes to the membership.

Minutes:

1.1       It was noted that there were no changes to the membership.

2.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any pecuniary interests or any other significant interest in matters on this agenda.

Minutes:

2.1       It was noted that there were no declarations of interest.

1.

49-51 Carnaby Street, W1F 9PY pdf icon PDF 2 MB

Ward
CIA*
SCZ**

Site Name & Address

Application
Type

Licensing Reference No.

West End

 

* None

 

** None

49-51 Carnaby Street, W1F 9PY

Premises Licence – Shadow Licence

24/03974/LIPSL

*Cumulative Impact Area
** Special Consideration Zone

 

Minutes:

WCC LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE NO 6.

(“The Committee”)

 

Thursday 5 March 2025

 

Membership:           Councillor Judith Southern (Chair), Councillor Karen Scarborough

 

Officer Support:       Legal Adviser:                    Michael Feeney

                                Committee Officer:             Steven Clarke

                                 Presenting Officer:             Kevin Jackaman

 

Other Parties:          Alun Thomas (representing the Applicant Company), Richard Brown (representing the Soho Society).

 

Application for a New Premises Licence (Shadow) in respect of 49-51 Carnaby Street, W1F 9PY

 

Premises

 

49-51 Carnaby Street

London

W1F 9PY

 

Applicant

 

Shaftesbury Av Limited

 

Ward

 

West End

 

Cumulative Impact Area

 

West End

 

Activities and Hours

 

Live Music

Monday to Wednesday: 09:00 to 02:00

Thursday to Saturday: 09:00 to 03:00

Sunday: 09:00 to 00:00

Seasonal variations/Non-standard timings: From the end of permitted hours on New Year’s Eve to the start of permitted hours on New Year’s Day. An additional hour on the morning that British Summer Time commences.

 

Recorded Music

Monday to Wednesday: 09:00 to 02:00

Thursday to Saturday: 09:00 to 03:00

Sunday: 09:00 to 00:00

Seasonal variations/Non-standard timings: From the end of permitted hours on New Year’s Eve to the start of permitted hours on New Year’s Day. An additional hour on the morning that British Summer Time commences.

 

Performance of Dance

Monday to Wednesday: 09:00 to 02:00

Thursday to Saturday: 09:00 to 03:00

Sunday: 09:00 to 00:00

Seasonal variations/Non-standard timings: From the end of permitted hours on New Year’s Eve to the start of permitted hours on New Year’s Day. An additional hour on the morning that British Summer Time commences.

 

Anything of a similar description to that falling within Live Music, Recorded Music or Performance of Dance

Monday to Wednesday: 09:00 to 02:00

Thursday to Saturday: 09:00 to 03:00

Sunday: 09:00 to 00:00

Seasonal variations/Non-standard timings: From the end of permitted hours on New Year’s Eve to the start of permitted hours on New Year’s Day. An additional hour on the morning that British Summer Time commences.

 

Late Night Refreshment

Monday to Wednesday: 23:00 to 02:00

Thursday to Saturday: 23:00 to 03:00

Sunday: 23:00 to 00:00

Seasonal variations/Non-standard timings: From the end of permitted hours on New Year’s Eve to the start of permitted hours on New Year’s Day. An additional hour on the morning that British Summer Time commences.

 

Sale by Retail of Alcohol (on and off sales)

Monday to Wednesday: 10:00 to 02:00

Thursday to Saturday: 10:00 to 03:00

Sunday: 12:00 to 00:00

Seasonal variations/Non-standard timings: From the end of permitted hours on New Year’s Eve to the start of permitted hours on New Year’s Day. An additional hour on the morning that British Summer Time commences.

 

Hours Premises are Open to the Public

Monday to Wednesday: 08:00 to 02:00

Thursday to Saturday: 08:00 to 03:00

Sunday: 08:00 to 00:00

Seasonal variations/Non-standard timings: From the end of permitted hours on New Year’s Eve to the start of permitted hours on New Year’s Day. An additional hour on the morning that British Summer Time commences.

 

Policy Considerations

 

Policies CIP1, HRS1 and MD1 apply under the City Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy (“SLP”).

 

Case Summary

 

This is an application  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

2.

Sophisticats, 3-7 Brewer Street, W1F 0RF pdf icon PDF 17 MB

Ward
CIA*
SCZ**

Site Name & Address

Application
Type

Licensing Reference No.

West End

 

* N/A

 

** N/A

Sophisticats, 3 - 7 Brewer Street, W1F 0RF

Sexual Entertainment Venue - Renewal

24/05896/LISEVR

*Cumulative Impact Area
** Special Consideration Zone

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

LICENSING SUB-COMMITTEE No. 6

Wednesday 5 March 2025

 

Membership:           Councillor Judith Southern (Chair) and Councillor Karen Scarborough

 

Legal Adviser:         Michael Feeney

Committee Officer:  Steven Clarke

Presenting Officer:  Kevin Jackaman

 

Present:                   Jack Spiegler (Solicitor for the Applicant) and John Mckeown of the Applicant Company     

 

Sophisticats, 3-7 Brewer Street, W1F 0RF (24/05896/LISEVR)

 

1.

Application for Renewal of a Sexual Entertainment Venue Sophisticats, 3-7 Brewer Street, W1F 0RF (24/05896/LISEVR) under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 (as amended by the Policing and Crime Act 2009)

 

 

The Sub-Committee has determined an application for Renewal of a Sexual Entertainment Venue Premises Licence made by John Mckeown Clubs Ltd to provide partial nudity striptease between the hours of Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 03:00 and Sunday 09:00 to 23:00

 

 

 

 

Amendments to application advised at hearing: N/A

 

 

 

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

 

Reasons:

 

14 objections were received, including representations from the Licensing Authority and Metropolitan Police Service (“MPS”). The objections from the Licensing Authority, the MPS and two interested parties were withdrawn prior to the hearing. The objections are set out in full at Appendix D of the Report.

 

Mr Kevin Jackaman, Senior Licensing Officer, outlined the application to the Committee. He advised that this was an application for Renewal of an SEV Licence located in the West End Ward and West End Cumulative Impact Zone. The application was to renew the Licence on the same terms and conditions as the existing licence. He confirmed that the additional submissions from the Applicant and the Interested Parties had been circulated.

 

Mr Spiegler advised that Mr Mckeown is the director and owner of the applicant company and was also Westminster’s longest-standing independent SEV operator. The licensing authority had deemed Mr Mckeown suitable to hold an SEV Licence on 16 prior occasions under the current regulatory framework and had never determined him to be unsuitable. Mr Spiegler stated that despite the allegations made in the objections Mr Mckeown remained a suitable person to hold an SEV Licence given his 25 years of unparalleled experienced.

 

Mr Spiegler advised that it was difficult to rebut the allegations made due to their anonymity, but the applicant believed that the allegations originated from a small number of performers who were not asked to perform again due to their conduct. Mr Spiegler stated that it was not for the licensing authority to make a ruling on a private or civil dispute relating to allegations that Mr Spiegler owed performers money. Mr Spiegler added that 17 current performers had made contrasting statements about what it is like to work in the premises. The objections were also not supported by the Licensing Authority or MPS, both of whom had withdrawn their submissions after they had confirmed compliance with the licence conditions through viewing random samples of CCTV. Mr Spiegler stated that Mr Mckeown was therefore suitable and no other policy issues had been raised.

 

In response to questions, Mr Mckeown stated that in March last year there had been complaints  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.