A Shoreditch venue is facing objections from local residents and authorities over its application for a premises licence. Curtain Call London Limited, operating as Spaces Unlocked at 118 Curtain Road, seeks to extend its licensable activities, including plays, films, live music, recorded music, performances of dance, and the supply of alcohol.
The premises Curtain Call, 118 Curtain Road, London, has been in possession of a Premises Licence since 1 July 2024 and the premises licensee are Sweet Harmony Productions Ltd and Curtain Call London Ltd. The Designated Premises Supervisor is Kerry Michela O'Connor. According to the applicant, they have successfully completed a 10-month trial period under their current licence (granted July 2024), with no complaints from residents or local authorities and there has been no recorded impact related to crime, anti-social behaviour, or public nuisance.
The Hackney Council Licensing Sub Committee B convened on Tuesday, 29 July 2025, to discuss the application. The agenda included the election of a chair, declarations of interest, and consideration of temporary event notices, alongside the Spaces Unlocked application.
The application requests standard hours for the ground floor and first floor from Monday to Wednesday, 09:00 to 00:00, Thursday to Saturday, 09:00 to 01:00, and Sunday, 09:00 to 00:00. The basement seeks similar hours, with extended operation until 04:00 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Non-standard hours are also requested, including New Year's Eve extensions, Sundays before Bank Holiday Mondays, and Halloween.
The application has drawn mixed reactions from the community. According to the public reports pack, Hackney Council received 76 representations, with 51 in support and 25 in opposition. Concerns raised by those objecting include the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.
Representations from responsible authorities also reflect these concerns. The police authority submitted representations based on the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. The licensing authority focused on the prevention of public nuisance, while the health authority raised concerns about the protection of children from harm.
If the sub-committee approves the application, council officers have suggested several conditions. These include mandatory conditions relating to the supply of alcohol, restrictions on the admission of children to film exhibitions, and a requirement that door supervisors are licensed by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Additional conditions derived from the applicant's operating schedule include maintaining the premises as an immersive arts, events, and exhibition centre, and installing and maintaining a comprehensive CCTV system.
The Licensing Sub-Committee is tasked with considering whether to grant or refuse the application, or to grant it with additional conditions or restrictions, taking into account Hackney’s Statement of Licensing Policy and the representations received. The public reports pack includes extracts from Hackney’s Statement of Licensing Policy, including policies relating to general principles, licensing objectives, core hours, and special policy areas. It notes that the premises is located in the Shoreditch Special Policy Area. Policies LP1 (General Principles), LP2 (Licensing Objectives), LP3 (Core Hours) LP10 Special Policy Areas (Shoreditch SPA) and LP6 (External Areas and Outdoor Events) are relevant.
