A Westminster licensing sub-committee has granted Ben Venuti, located at 34 Upper Tachbrook Street, permission to sell alcohol after initial concerns from the police and Environmental Health were addressed. Ben Venuti currently operates as a café/delicatessen, and the license variation allows them to add the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and to extend their opening hours.

Mr I Due Fratelli Ltd applied for a premises licence variation to include the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises and to extend the hours for alcohol sales and opening times. The proposed hours for alcohol sales were 09:00 to 21:00, Monday to Sunday, with opening hours from 08:00 to 21:00, Monday to Sunday. Following consultation, the applicant reduced the timings for the retail sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises and the opening hours to the timings shown in section 1-B of the .

Initially, Nicoletta Vianello, representing the Environmental Health Service, objected to the application, citing concerns about potential public nuisance in the Special Consideration Zone and impacts on public safety. PC Dave Morgan of the Metropolitan Police Service also objected, stating that the application lacked sufficient information to promote the Four Licensing Objectives1. However, both objections were withdrawn after an agreement on conditions.

Three other individuals also objected to the application, raising concerns about noise, disruption, and the impact on local residents. One of these objections was later withdrawn.

The Licensing Sub-Committee (4), consisting of Councillor Angela Piddock, Councillor Judith Southern (Lead Member - Older Persons Champion), and Councillor Karen Scarborough, considered the application on Thursday 18 September 2025, taking into account Westminster Council's licensing policy and guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

The agenda for the meeting also included consideration of licensing applications for Ivy Soho Brasserie and The Cocochine.

  1. The Four Licensing Objectives are: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. PC Dave Morgan initially objected due to insufficient information to promote these objectives, but the objection was later withdrawn following an agreement of conditions. The specific details of how the applicant addressed the initial lack of information are not provided.