A decision on a new premises licence for The Mirror Café in Richmond is expected within five working days, following a lengthy Licensing Sub-Committee hearing on Friday, March 13, 2026. The committee heard significant objections from local residents and resident associations, primarily concerning noise, public safety, and proposed operating hours.
The applicant, Ms. Evren Yazici, sought permission to sell alcohol for on and off-site consumption from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, and to provide live music from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., with the premises opening from 7 a.m. to midnight. However, the application faced strong opposition.
Ms. Yazici clarified that an earlier mention of alcohol sales until 11:30 p.m. was an administrative error, and all licensable activities would conclude by 11 p.m. She also explained that the display of sealed alcohol bottles was an oversight and had been corrected, as it could have given the impression they were for sale when they were not.
Concerns about noise, particularly from live music and patrons, were voiced by residents. Ms. Sofia Gammelgard described experiencing significant noise from two previous unlicensed karaoke nights, stating that music and amplified sound were audible through walls, impacting sleep and the ability to enjoy their homes. Residents argued that the building was not designed for such activities, with one family reporting their children needing noise-cancelling headphones to do homework due to existing noise levels.
To mitigate these concerns, Ms. Yazici proposed that any live music or cultural events would be small-scale, infrequent, carefully supervised, held indoors with windows and doors closed, and would finish by 11 p.m. She also committed to ensuring adequate staff presence to monitor and manage potential noise issues, and to keeping sound levels within acceptable limits. Notices would be placed within the premises reminding customers to be considerate of local residents when leaving.
Public safety was another key area of contention. Questions were raised about fire safety training for staff, the adequacy of fire exits, and the premises' capacity. Ms. Virginia Currie expressed concerns about fire safety, while Mr. Peter Willan, representing the Friends of Richmond Green, questioned the accuracy of the premises' capacity figures and the suitability of the location for amplified live music.
Ms. Yazici addressed the public safety concerns, stating the premises had a main exit to Church Court, emergency lighting, and that all previously identified fire safety issues had been addressed. She committed to ensuring electrical systems and emergency lighting remained operational and that documentation would be kept on-site. She also expressed willingness to accept any reasonable conditions the sub-committee deemed appropriate.
During the meeting, there was discussion and some confusion regarding the capacity of The Mirror Café. Initially, the plan showed 14 people upstairs and 8 downstairs. However, Ms. Yazici later stated that the capacity for upstairs was 22 and 15 downstairs. She also mentioned that for film screening events, the downstairs capacity could potentially rise to 25, but this was not part of the current application. Residents and some sub-committee members questioned these figures and the accuracy of the seating plan, with concerns raised about how loose furniture should be considered in capacity calculations.
Despite Ms. Yazici's assurances and willingness to accept conditions, objectors remained unconvinced. Mr. Willan highlighted past issues with noise in Church Court and questioned the suitability of the premises for amplified music, suggesting a noise limiter might be necessary. He also raised concerns about pavement licence breaches and discrepancies in the application plan, referencing the premises licence application plan Appendix A.
The licensing officer, Sumit Anand, advised residents to log any noise nuisance incidents with the noise team for enforcement action. He stated that this is 'crucial for enforcement action,' as an officer needs to witness the noise nuisance occurring. For later hours, officers are available to make visits, implying that logged incidents are a necessary step for the council to take enforcement measures.
He also clarified that while a fire risk assessment is recommended, it is not a statutory requirement for the licensing application itself, and the fire authority had made no objection.
The sub-committee retired to deliberate on the application, with a decision to be communicated in writing within five working days. The full report can be found here.
