Kensington and Chelsea Council Approves Raffles Nightclub Extensions with Community Dialogue Condition
Kensington and Chelsea Council's Planning Applications Committee has approved plans for extensions and alterations at 287 King's Road, home to Raffles nightclub. The decision, made on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, includes a crucial condition mandating continued dialogue between the club and its neighbours to address concerns and foster positive community relations.
The approved plans involve the deepening and extension of the basement space to align with the existing ground floor footprint, with minor additions for services and a fence. Importantly, there are no amendments to the operation or use of the building, which will remain as the Raffles nightclub. This is seen as an important first step in the venue's transition towards a high-quality, well-managed private members' venue, with the basement extension providing necessary space for improvement and reorganisation. The applicant has committed to moving all nightclub activities to the basement and operating the ground and first floors as a restaurant, a transition that will require subsequent planning and licensing applications.
During the meeting, Mr David Carr, chair of the Poulton Square Residents Association, acknowledged significant progress made following extensive discussions. Initially, the association had raised objections regarding the draft operating and management plan being unacceptably vague,
alongside concerns about fire safety, noise, operational management, ventilation, and plant equipment. However, three key developments have led to the withdrawal of their objections. These include a draft operating and management plan (OMP) designed to protect the neighbourhood, a commitment to relocate nightclub activities to the basement and convert the ground and first floors into a restaurant, and the regularisation of fire exit issues with an adjoining property. The applicant has entered into a new deed with the freeholders of Porton's House, an adjacent part of the site, to address these fire exit concerns that previously posed a risk to the entire scheme.
The draft OMP includes detailed controls covering admissions, security, CCTV, queuing, smoking, noise, servicing, complaints, and quiet dispersal. A final version will be approved by the council, and its measures must be implemented and retained. The OMP has been developed with input from residents, and the applicant, Ben, has committed to remaining accessible and maintaining an open channel of communication through dedicated contact routes, regular resident liaison, and a clear complaints process.
While the residents' association no longer objects to the scheme, they expressed a preference for the final OMP to be secured by a Section 106 agreement, rather than a planning condition, believing it would offer greater long-term enforceability and enhanced protections. Council officers, however, advised that a planning condition would be more effective, as breaches are easier to enforce through an enforcement notice or breach of condition notice, whereas a Section 106 obligation typically relies on seeking an injunction.
Iabo Johnson, representing Raffles, highlighted that the proposal is a crucial first step in the venue's evolution into a high-quality, well-managed private members' venue. The venue will feature controlled membership, guest responsibility, and clear standards of conduct to ensure a more accountable and carefully managed operation.
Councillor Sam Mackover, chairing the committee, commended the productive engagement of all parties, describing the process as a model of how engagement can overcome fears and concerns.
Councillor Lloyd North echoed these sentiments, praising the applicant's willingness to engage and the remarkable transformation achieved.
He suggested that future dialogue and consultation should also include ward councillors, in addition to immediate neighbours and amenity groups.
The committee ultimately granted planning permission for the extensions and alterations, as detailed in the public reports pack for the Planning Applications Committee meeting on 20 October 2026.