Silvertown's The Cause nightclub is facing objections to its application for a new premises licence, with concerns raised by local councillors and a tenant of the Silver Building, where the club is located.
The Newham Council Licensing (2003 Act) Sub-Committee is scheduled to review the application for The Cause, situated at Spaces 4, 5, 6 and 7 The Silver Building, 60 Dock Road, Silvertown, E16 1YZ, on 14 August 2025. DL Food & Drink Ltd. is the applicant. The existing premises licence for the Silver Building, 23/24823/LATRAN, authorises a range of licensable activities. The new application is for a new premises licence for The Cause, Space 4, 5, 6 and 7 within the Silver Building. These spaces have not held a premises licence previously however they have been operating under several Temporary Event Notices (TENS). The existing licence for the Silver Building is attached as Appendix D.
The application seeks to extend the club's licensable activities, including the supply of alcohol, plays, films, live music, recorded music, dance performances, and late-night refreshment. The proposed hours of operation are:
- Supply of alcohol (on): Monday to Thursday 12:00 - 00:00, Friday 12:00 - 06:00, Saturday 09:00 - 06:00, Sunday 09:00 - 00:00
- Plays (indoors): Monday to Sunday 12:00 - 00:00
- Films (indoors): Sunday to Thursday 12:00 - 00:00, Friday to Saturday 12:00 - 06:00
- Live music (indoors): Monday to Thursday 12:00 - 23:00, Friday to Saturday 12:00 - 06:00, Sunday 12:00 - 23:00
- Recorded music, performance of Dance (indoors) and anything similar: Monday to Thursday 12:00 - 00:00, Friday 12:00 - 06:00, Saturday 08:00 - 06:00, Sunday 08:00 - 00:00
- Late night refreshment (indoors): Sunday to Thursday 23:00 - 00:00, Friday to Saturday 23:00 - 05:00
- Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 10:00 - 00:00, Friday 10:00 - 06:00, Saturday 08:00 - 06:00, Sunday 08:00 - 00:00
However, the application has met with resistance. Councillors Steve Brayshaw and Caroline Adaja have lodged objections based on the prevention of public nuisance. Councillor Brayshaw stated that they had received numerous complaints from residents regarding noise and disturbance late at night, with revellers failing to leave quietly. He also highlighted the issue of taxis honking and general traffic noise, making the situation intolerable for residents of the western side of Britannia Village.
To mitigate these noise concerns, DL Food & Drink Ltd. is proposing several noise management actions, including:
- Producing an acoustic report with noise reduction calculations and sound insulation recommendations.
- Including guidance for internal sound levels with digitally locked Loudspeaker Management Systems.
- Ensuring amplified music is not played at a level that causes unreasonable disturbance.
- Keeping access and egress doors and windows closed (unless contrary to fire precautions).
- Ensuring noise from music is not audible in noise-sensitive premises between 22:00 and 06:00.
- Using a noise limiting device on all sound amplification equipment.
- Displaying a clear notice at every exit instructing customers to respect local residents and leave quietly.
- Ensuring noise from ventilation, refrigeration, or air conditioning plant does not cause a nuisance.
- Providing a publicly available direct telephone number for the manager at the premises.
These measures are detailed in the Silver Building Event Operational Procedures Summary, derived from the Event Safety Management Plan (ESMP), which is included in the report pack as Appendix A1.
Laurence Passera, a tenant of the Silver Building, has also voiced strong objections. In a letter included in the Public Reports Pack, Passera complained that the existing nightclub operations are already incredibly disruptive.
He cited instances of club customers queuing alongside his units, obstructing equipment deliveries. He also noted the need to schedule his own guest evenings around The Cause's events to avoid conflicts. Passera raised concerns about drug use and a recent stabbing incident, suggesting the licence be reappraised to restrict third-party sub-letting and impose a capacity limit.
The Silver Building Event Operational Procedures Summary, derived from the Event Safety Management Plan (ESMP), outlines several actions related to these concerns:
- Queuing: Admission to the premises shall be through the approved entrances. There shall be no access to the building directly from Dock Road, all patrons shall be required to join a queue off street in rear yard on the south side of the building where all security searching and ticket processing shall take place. Queuing shall be restricted to this area that shall be supervised by SIA registered security staff and covered with an unobstructed view by CCTV.
- Drug Use: The premises shall operate a zero tolerance policy regarding drugs. Drugs found at the entrance or within the premises shall be seized and recorded on a police drugs form together with the details of the person who was in possession of them. Personal, (small personal amounts of drugs of any Class), use drugs, shall also be seized. All confiscated drugs shall be bagged. The bag is to contain the items and on the exterior, the time, date and name of the person who was in possession and a description of the items. The bags shall be placed in a secure box and shall be retained and police shall be notified to arrange collection.
- The licence holder shall ensure that documented security arrangements are implemented at the premises to discourage the sale and consumption of controlled substances. Security arrangements shall include having a member of staff regularly check toilet areas every 30 minutes. The date and times of all checks shall be recorded in a book kept for that purpose and to be produced on request to an authorised officer of the Licensing Authority or a constable. Signage shall be placed in the toilet areas advising patrons that checks are conducted regularly.
The dispersal policy outlined in the Silver Building Event Operational Procedures includes the following:
- All patrons shall be reminded to leave the area quietly and signage stating
please respect our neighbours and leave the area quietly
shall be displayed in prominent positions at the exits from the premises. - SIA security staff shall supervise and monitor the dispersal from the premises and shall remain on duty until all patrons have dispersed.
- SIA security staff shall prevent people staying on the street after any show has finished by asking them to move along politely.
- SIA security staff shall ensure that patrons wait off the street in the rear yard if they have ordered a taxi until it arrives to reduce the impact on the street.
- SIA security shall assist in the management of taxis on the street, reminding them not to use their horns and marshalling vehicle movement if required.
The effectiveness of this policy is not discussed in the provided meeting information.
The Public Reports Pack includes a summary of the Silver Building Event Operational Procedures, derived from the Event Safety Management Plan (ESMP). This document outlines key points of operational control decided upon after risk assessment and consultation with responsible authorities, covering areas such as pre-event planning, fire safety, third-party promoters, capacities, alcohol sales, CCTV, security, drug/weapons action, noise management, child protection, staff training, and dispersal policy.
The sub-committee will consider these objections alongside the application from DL Food & Drink Ltd at the meeting on 14 August 2025.