New premises licence granted in Southwark

Objections from Environmental Health, Police and Licensing, were overcome leading to all parties withdrawing their representations ahead of a proposed hearing last Thursday.

The legal team from Poppleston Allen were representing the Marbella Hotel Limited and the premises is called Peckham Rooms Hotel, 2 Queen’s Road, London, a boutique hotel in Southwark Council’s jurisdiction.

The hotel had been operating for several years, before the owners decided they wanted to apply for a new Premises Licence so they could sell alcohol to their residents and their guests, as well as to members of the public in a public bar they were looking to create in the basement.

The application was made in April and received representations from Police, Licensing Authority and the Environmental Health. The application was to trade outside Southwark Council Licensing Policy’s recommended framework hours for this area, but after further negotiation with the relevant officers, all three were persuaded to withdraw their representations, so the application was granted without requirement for a hearing.

Commenting, Suraj Desor, Solicitor at Poppleston Allen, who acts for the client, said: “I am delighted that we were able to obtain a new Premises Licence for this boutique hotel and bar in Southwark. Although the trading hours we obtained are beyond recommended framework hours in the Council’s Licensing Policy, after further discussions and negotiation with Police, Licensing Authority and Environmental Health officers, we were able to demonstrate how the premises and measures in place will ensure the licensing objectives are upheld.”

He continues: “In particular addressing concerns regarding use of outside areas and customer dispersal through agreeing appropriate yet operationally workable conditions. I am happy we were able to alleviate their concerns so that the Premises Licence could be granted under delegated authority, avoiding the need for a hearing in front of the Council’s licensing sub-committee and the associated costs and delay.”

Suraj added: “This result is an excellent example of a successful partnership working approach between the Police, Authority Officers and Operators, and how this can work well where all parties are open to dialog and discussion.”

This is the second licensed boutique hotel and bar in Southwark for the owners and follows a previous successful new premises licence application for the client’s basement bar, Communion Bar, for which Poppleston Allen were able to obtain a new Premises Licence to trade until 3AM in Southwark Council’s cumulative impact policy area, where there is a rebuttable presumption to refuse such applications unless the applicant can demonstrate it will not add to the existing cumulative impact on any one or more of the licensing objectives.

For further information on this issue or any other legal licensing problems contact solicitor Suraj Desor on 0115 953 8500.