The Stags Head pub has successfully secured extended hours for its licence after a review by Hackney's Licensing Sub Committee A, allowing it to serve alcohol and host music until 03:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
The committee approved a variation to the premises licence for The Stags Head, located at 55 Orsman Road, which will allow for later hours for the sale of alcohol, live and recorded music, and late-night refreshment on Fridays and Saturdays. The new terminal hours for all these activities will be 03:00 on both nights.
Representations were made by Environmental Health and the Licensing Authority, citing historical complaints regarding noise from amplified music, customer behaviour in the rear garden, and dispersal issues. Environmental Health highlighted that the proposed hours exceeded the council's core hours policy, which generally dictates closing times of 23:00 on weekdays and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The initial proposal to extend hours until 03:00 significantly deviated from this policy.
Specific complaints from residents included extremely loud music, having lock ins after closing hours and always allow drunken patrons to shout outside and sit on our estate walls with the drinks they've taken out of the pub
, Live band music, saxophone, shouting, preventing households including children from sleeping
, and Really loud music and bass not allowing me or my family to go to sleep
.
In response, the applicant, The Artist Bar & Kitchen Ltd, proposed a series of strengthened conditions. These include closing the rear garden to customers at 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, with no amplified music permitted in the garden at any time. A written dispersal policy will be implemented, and measures will be put in place to manage the smoking area and control amplified music levels to prevent nuisance.
The dispersal policy, to be enforced by staff whenever the premises operates after midnight, includes supervision of customer departures, encouraging quiet exits, preventing shouting outside, directing customers away from residential properties, and monitoring the immediate vicinity after closing.
Measures for the smoking area stipulate it will be located at the front of the premises only after 22:00, with no smoking permitted in the rear garden after this time. No drinks will be allowed in the smoking area after midnight.
Amplified music will be played at a level that does not cause nuisance, with staff instructed to manage levels and respond immediately to concerns. No amplified music will be played externally, and no speakers will be located in the rear garden. Windows and doors will be managed to minimise noise breakout.
The committee approved the variation, incorporating these additional conditions and clarifications, deeming them sufficient to promote the licensing objectives. There were no objections from local residents or businesses mentioned in the provided information, only representations from Environmental Health and the Licensing Authority.
