Lambeth Police are seeking the revocation of Aquarium Tapas Bar's license, citing multiple breaches of licensing objectives. The Metropolitan Police have raised concerns that the premises licence holder has failed to uphold the licensing objectives, specifically the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety and the prevention of public nuisance.
The Lambeth Licensing Sub-Committee convened on Tuesday, 11 November 2025, to review the premises licence for Aquarium Tapas Bar, located at 415 Wandsworth Road. The Metropolitan Police submitted the review application, alleging that the bar had failed to uphold the licensing objectives, specifically the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the prevention of public nuisance.
The review application, attached as Annex A, details specific incidents that prompted the review. Police reported a firearms incident on 26 February 2023, occurring at 05:20 hours, well past the bar's permitted closing time of 04:00 hours. Furthermore, on 2 March 2025, officers investigating an alleged assault found the premises operating beyond its licensed hours.
The report also stated that during a meeting on 1 April 2025, the designated premises supervisor, Jorge De Freitas, admitted to breaches of licence conditions and acknowledged difficulties in ensuring patrons leave at closing time. The Police Licensing team had met with Mr. De Freitas where he admitted to several breaches of conditions on the premises licence and that he sometimes finds it difficult to get patrons to leave the premises at the stipulated terminal hour on the licence.
The Licensing Authority supported the review application, stating in Annex B that they had no confidence in the management of the premises and recommended that the licence be revoked.
Representations in support of the premises, including a petition, were included in Annex C. The current premises licence was provided in Annex D.
The sub-committee, consisting of Councillor David Robson, Chair of Licensing, Councillor John-Paul Ennis, and Councillor Sarina Da Silva, was to consider the application based on Lambeth Council's Statement of Licensing Policy, guidance from the Secretary of State, the Licensing Objectives outlined in the Licensing Act 2003, and any received representations.
The Licensing Act 2003 outlines four key licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm.
The sub-committee will notify interested parties of its decisions on each application within five working days. Further updates will be posted on the Council's Democracy X account, which is at LBL Democracy.
