The Hope pub in Kew has been granted a new licence, but with a raft of strict conditions aimed at preventing public nuisance and ensuring safety. The decision by the Richmond upon Thames Licensing Sub-Committee followed a hearing on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
The pub, located at 115-117 Kew Road, will now be permitted to sell alcohol from 10:00 to 23:00 Sunday to Thursday, and until 00:30 on Friday and Saturday. Live music will be allowed indoors on the ground floor from 19:00 to 23:00 Sunday to Thursday, and until 23:30 on Friday and Saturday. A first-floor function room can host live music until 00:30, but this is limited to 50 events per year.
Film screenings are permitted indoors between 12:00 and 23:00 daily. Late night refreshment will be available from 23:00 to 23:30, but crucially, not in the rear garden area.
Several conditions have been imposed to address concerns raised by local residents and councillors. The rear garden must close and be cleared of patrons by 23:00 daily, with recorded music ceasing by 20:00. There will be no live music in the rear garden. Additionally, all windows and doors on the ground and first floor must be kept shut after 23:00 when live music is playing. The applicant has also agreed to display a contact telephone number for residents to report concerns, and to ensure rubbish and bottles are not emptied between 19:00 and 07:00 Monday to Saturday, and between 19:00 and 08:00 on Saturday night/Sunday morning.
To promote the protection of children from harm, children under 18 will not be permitted on the premises after 21:00 on weekends. This measure is intended to ensure the premises is not frequented by unaccompanied minors during late hours on weekends.
The application was opposed by several local residents and Councillor Richard Warren, who raised concerns about potential noise from late-night activities, music, and patrons leaving the premises, as well as increased traffic and potential anti-social behaviour. These concerns were addressed by the imposed conditions, including the requirement for windows and doors to be kept shut after 23:00 when live music is playing. While specific monitoring details for this condition are not explicitly detailed, the measure itself aims to prevent noise nuisance.
The Metropolitan Police did not object to the application after the applicant agreed to their proposed conditions. These included that doors into the garden must be acoustically treated and fitted with a self-closing mechanism, and that on weekends children under 18 years of age are not to be permitted after 21:00 hours. The police also stipulated conditions regarding the emptying of rubbish and bottles.
The Sub-Committee, chaired by Councillor Lesley Pollesche, noted that The Hope is situated within the 'Richmond Town Centre Cumulative Impact Zone'. This zone is an area where the concentration of licensed premises may lead to a significant cumulative impact on licensing objectives. Applications within this zone may be refused if there are relevant representations, unless the applicant can demonstrate no adverse effect. The committee was satisfied that the granted licence, with the imposed conditions, would promote the four licensing objectives.
Further conditions include that all off-sales of alcohol must be in sealed containers, and that when private events are held on the first floor, a member of staff will be present at the exit during the last 30 minutes before closing to ensure quiet dispersal of customers. The full details of the licence can be found in the hope premises licence 36838.
