Residents have voiced strong concerns over a bid to extend the operating hours and licensable activities at Warren House Hotel, citing fears of increased noise, crime, and disruption.
The hotel, located on Warren Road, Kingston upon Thames, applied for a new premises licence to authorise regulated entertainment, late-night refreshment, and the supply of alcohol until midnight daily. Crucially, alcohol could be supplied to residents and overnight guests at any time.
During a Kingston upon Thames Licensing Sub-Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, numerous residents submitted representations expressing their anxieties. Key concerns revolved around the potential for amplified music, increased patron numbers, and late-night departures to disturb the peace of the predominantly residential area.
The application for Warren House Hotel seeks authorisation for regulated entertainment including film exhibition, indoor sporting events, live music, recorded music, and dance performances. The proposed hours for these activities are from 10am to midnight Monday to Saturday, and 12pm to midnight on Sundays. The application also includes late-night refreshment from 11pm to midnight daily.
Several objectors highlighted existing planning conditions imposed in 2018, which were designed to protect local amenities. These conditions included restrictions on amplified music, particularly on Sundays and outdoors, and a cap on the number of guests for private functions. Residents argued that the new licence application would contravene the spirit and letter of these existing controls.
One resident, Roya Elizada, recounted a harrowing experience of a burglary at his property, which he believed was facilitated by inadequate security at Warren House. He also raised concerns about noise from live music outside the venue.
John Tarrant, a resident of The Watergardens, spoke of past issues with late-night drinking and noise from the hotel, which he stated had previously been resolved by planning conditions. He urged the subcommittee to maintain strict conditions regarding outdoor drinking and amplified music.
Rupert Cox, co-chair of the Malden and Coombe Residents' Association, expressed concern that the application could lead to Warren House becoming more akin to a public house, which he felt was unsuitable for the residential estate. He also noted that Warren House had failed to comply with planning condition reporting requirements for the past three years.
Mr. Cox also mentioned that the restriction for guests at events is 100, and expressed surprise that Mr. D'Alba, representing Warren House, was not aware of this limit, which he stated is contained in condition 12 of the existing planning conditions. The application itself is primarily to license newly added floor space, the Orangery, and the core licensing hours and boundaries are stated to remain largely unchanged from their existing licence.
Representations also touched upon public safety, with concerns raised about inadequate parking, increased traffic, and poorly lit roads contributing to potential accidents and anti-social behaviour, particularly for vulnerable residents and those using the nearby care home.
In response, the hotel's representatives stated that the application primarily sought to license newly added floor space, the Orangery, and that core licensing hours and boundaries remained largely unchanged from their existing licence. They highlighted that planning authority restrictions already controlled noise levels and that there had been zero noise complaints in the past year.
Regarding the Orangery specifically, Mr. Davis stated that a closing time of 10:30pm or 11pm could be implemented to manage noise. This suggests a potentially earlier closing time for the Orangery's patio area compared to the main proposed licensing hours.
The subcommittee heard evidence and representations from both sides before withdrawing to make its decision. The outcome and full reasons are expected to be confirmed by email within five working days. The full details of the meeting can be found in the Public reports pack Tuesday 26 May 2026.
