Residents have raised concerns over a new premises licence application submitted by Corinthian Casuals Football Club, citing potential for increased noise, anti-social behaviour, and traffic congestion in the residential area surrounding King George's Field. Residents also noted that the local area already supports a number of well-established and valued community groups, including the Air Cadets, a Football Club, and a Bowls Club, which contribute to regular footfall and traffic in the area.
The Licensing Sub-Committee is scheduled to discuss the application, which seeks to extend the club's licensable area to cover the entire site at King George's Field, Queens Mary Close, Surbiton, KT6 7NA. The club is applying for permission to sell alcohol, play recorded music, and provide late-night refreshments, with extended hours on New Year's Eve.
The application, made on 29 May 2025 by Corinthian-Casuals Football Club Limited, requests the following:
- Sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises from 10:00 to 23:00 Sunday to Thursday, and from 10:00 to 01:00 Friday and Saturday, with sales from the outdoor bar ending at 22:00.
- Recorded music indoors and outdoors from 10:00 to 23:00 Sunday to Thursday, and from 10:00 to 01:00 Friday and Saturday, with outdoor music ending at 22:00.
- Late night refreshment from 23:00 to 01:00 Friday and Saturday.
- Extension of hours for all licensable activities and opening hours to 02:30 on New Year's Eve.
The club already holds a premises licence for the clubhouse, but now aims to extend the licensable area to encompass the entire site. The Metropolitan Police had initially raised concerns but withdrew their representation after the club agreed to amend their operating schedule. The specific amendments are detailed in Annex 3 - Conditions arising from applicants Operating Schedule of the report.
However, the council received three valid representations from local residents, raising concerns related to all four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.
One representation argues that extending licensing hours will lead to unsociable late-night behaviour in a residential area and suggests restricting licensing to suit the primary use of the football ground. Another raises concerns about littering, parking, congestion, noise, and anti-social behaviour, highlighting existing pressure from other community groups. This representation states that parking and traffic problems are among the most direct and damaging consequences of events at the Recreation Ground.
A third representation focuses on traffic chaos, lack of parking, and the detrimental effect of noise and disturbance from late-night social activities on residential amenity and wellbeing.
The Public Reports Pack details the conditions arising from the applicant's operating schedule, including measures for crime prevention, public safety, nuisance prevention, and child protection. These include CCTV operation, incident logbooks, staff training, fire safety procedures, noise control measures, and a Challenge-25 policy. The operating schedule also includes specific noise control measures, such as:
- All customers are asked to leave quietly. Clear and legible notices are prominently displayed to remind customers to leave quietly and have regard to our neighbours.
- Except for access and egress, all external doors and windows must be kept closed when recorded music is in progress.
- Prominent notices must be displayed at all exits of the premises requesting patrons to respect the needs of local residents and to leave the premises and area quietly.
- External checks shall take place to ensure that when recorded music is in progress any noise from the premises is not clearly audible at the boundary of the nearest residential premises.
- No deliveries shall be made to the premises nor waste, kegs or bottles moved outside or collected from the premise between 23:00 and 08:00 hours.
The Licensing Sub-Committee has several options, including granting the application as requested, granting it with conditions, excluding licensable activities, or rejecting it altogether. The decision will be made in light of the Licensing Act 2003, Secretary of State's Guidance, and the council's statement of licensing policy. The council's statement of licensing policy is available at https://www.kingston.gov.uk/downloads/download/130/statement-of-licensing-policy.
