Residents living near a Brixton bar have voiced strong objections to a new premises licence application, citing concerns over potential noise, anti-social behaviour, and public safety. The Lambeth Council Licensing Sub-Committee convened on Thursday, 17 July 2025, to address the application for Jungle Bar, located at 133 Stockwell Road. Prior to becoming Jungle Bar, planning permission was granted in 2005 for Change of use of rear part of ground floor from restaurant/bar (Use Class A3 and A4) to form six light industrial start up units (Use Class B1c), installation of a mezzanine floor and nine rooflight and other associated alterations.
The application, submitted by JungleBar LTD, seeks authorisation for recorded music, entertainment similar to music/dance, late-night refreshment, and the retail sale of alcohol. JungleBar LTD is seeking the following hours for licensable activities:
- Recorded Music: Monday - Thursday 11:00 - 00:00, Friday & Saturday 11:00 - 01:00, Sunday 11:00 - 23:00
- Entertainment Similar to Music/Dance: Monday - Thursday 11:00 - 00:00, Friday & Saturday 11:00 - 01:00, Sunday 11:00 - 00:00
- Late Night Refreshment: Monday - Thursday 23:00 - 00:00, Friday & Saturday 23:00 - 01:00, Sunday 23:00 - 00:00
- Sale by Retail of Alcohol: Monday - Thursday 11:00 - 00:00, Friday & Saturday 11:00 - 01:00, Sunday 11:00 - 00:00
The applicant also requested non-standard timings for all of the above activities, until 03:00 on special event days such as bank holiday weekends, Christmas, New Years Eve, Gay pride, Jamaican Independence, and Nigerian Independence. However, the proposal has met with considerable resistance from the local community.
Resident Concerns
Thirteen objections were lodged by local residents, a residents' association, and individuals from nearby streets. These representations highlighted a range of issues, including:
- Public urination
- Illegal parking
- Anti-social behaviour
- Noise disturbances
- Alleged breaches of licensing regulations
One resident, Mr Richard, expressed concerns about patrons leaving the bar intoxicated, leading to disorder and suspected drunk driving. He also noted instances of drug use in the area, with drug paraphernalia left on the streets. Ms Susannah raised concerns about patrons blocking access to residential streets and a lack of security.
Ms Helen stated that the bar's operations consistently undermine the four key licensing objectives: it has a history of activities that contribute to crime & disorder in the area; the bar poses significant risks to public safety; noise & disruption from patrons & vehicles disturb residents' peace waking them in the early hours; and its operations expose children to harmful behaviours, including intoxicated individuals, drug use & antisocial activities.
The Dalyell Area Residents' Association (DARA) submitted a detailed objection, citing repeated breaches of Temporary Event Notice (TEN) requirements, a lack of community engagement, and the misuse of residential streets for parking. They also raised concerns about public safety failures and the impact on residents' mental health and wellbeing.
Licensing Authority's Stance
The Licensing Authority also lodged a representation, stating it had no confidence that the premises would be managed in a way that would promote the licensing objectives, given the history of complaints and alleged breaches of the previous licence. The Licensing Authority recommended that the application be refused.
Alleged Breaches and Complaints
The Licensing Authority noted that the premises had been subject to 12 noise complaints in the past year, although none were substantiated. Concerns were also raised about the premises allegedly trading without a licence after the previous licence lapsed in March 2024. The previous license for Jungle Bar, reference number 22/00223/PRMTRN, authorised recorded music, entertainment similar to music/dance, late night refreshment, and the sale by retail of alcohol. The license also included specific conditions related to CCTV, door staff, incident logs, and noise control.
Application Adjourned
Due to discrepancies in the hours listed in the application, the Licensing Sub-Committee, chaired by Councillor David Robson, decided to adjourn the hearing. The licensing officer, Pam Riley, noted that the original application indicated Sunday hours for late night refreshment as 11:00 - 03:00, but the applicant clarified that the terminal hour should be midnight. Additionally, the sale of alcohol was initially stated as 11:00 - 01:00 daily, but the applicant confirmed the correct hours are Sunday to Thursday 11:00 - midnight and Friday and Saturday 11:00 - 01:00. Councillor Robson stated that the decision was made to ensure a fair and due process, given that the hours in the application did not match the report and that late material had been submitted. The Licensing Sub-Committee decided to adjourn the hearing to allow for the information in the report to be corrected and aligned with the applicant's intended hours.
The hearing is now scheduled to be reheard on 4 September 2025, though this date is subject to change.
