Hammersmith and Fulham Council's Licensing Sub-Committee has granted a new premises licence for the Civic Campus, permitting the sale of alcohol, provision of films, live and recorded music, and late-night refreshment across multiple venues within the development. The licence allows operating hours to extend until 3 am on most days.
The committee approved the new premises licence for H&F Civic Campus - Civic Avenue & Unity Square, located at Hammersmith Civic Campus, King Street, London, W6 9JU. The licence permits the sale of alcohol on and off the premises, the provision of films, live and recorded music (indoors and outdoors), and late-night refreshment (indoors only).
The Civic Campus Building and New Town Square will be open from 9 am to 3 am daily, while Civic Avenue and Unity Square will operate from 9 am to 11 pm. Alcohol sales will be permitted from 10 am to 3 am in the Civic Campus Building and 10 am to 11 pm in Civic Avenue and Unity Square.
During the consultation period, local residents raised objections concerning the proposed late operating hours, citing potential increases in noise, crime, and public nuisance in what they described as a primarily residential area. Concerns were also raised about traffic and congestion from taxis and private hire vehicles.
The applicant's solicitor, Alun Thomas, argued that the proposed hours were justified by the managed nature of the estate, the extensive mitigation measures in place, and the council's policy supporting growth in the night-time economy.
He highlighted comprehensive security, CCTV, and management plans that had been approved through the planning process.
Mr. Thomas further elaborated that everything that we've done in the campus only promotes the licensing objectives and in fact, there could not be a better place for this type of use to take place because of the protections that have rightly been put in place.
An acoustic assessment report was also presented as evidence regarding noise mitigation, proposing specific noise limiting levels for the roof terrace based on measured background noise levels and modelling.
To address concerns about noise, crime, and public nuisance, a comprehensive suite of mitigation measures has been implemented. These include CCTV, on-site security, a lighting strategy, and noise controls. Waste management and an overarching management framework, encompassing delivery and dispersal plans, are also in place. The decision document for the premises licence details further conditions within the applicant's operating schedule, including:
- High Definition CCTV installation and maintenance, with appropriate signage informing customers they are being recorded.
- Staff training on the Licensing Act 2003, licensing objectives, offences, and licence conditions, with specific training for alcohol sales refreshed at least every six months.
- An incident log to record crimes, ejections, complaints, disorder, drug/weapon seizures, CCTV faults, alcohol sale refusals, and visits by authorities.
- Operation of a Challenge 25 proof of age scheme.
- Notices displayed at exits asking customers to leave quietly.
- Ensuring no noise or vibration emanates from the premises that gives rise to nuisance.
- A policy for the welfare and safeguarding of vulnerable patrons, with incidents recorded in the log.
- Civic Avenue and Unity Square not to be used after 23:00, except for persons temporarily leaving to smoke.
The council's Statement of Licensing Policy (SLP) supports the licensed sector and leisure offer within the borough, focusing on business resilience and growing a robust and thriving cultural and leisure sector.
The policy aims for a sustainable, well-run licensed sector; Hammersmith & Fulham as a good place to live, work and enjoy leisure; and a safe licensing environment and night-time economy. Mr. Thomas stated that the Civic Campus is signposted in the council statement of licensing policy as being um a vibrant entertainment, arts, business, education and social destination and it'll breathe life back into this, uh, this part of King Street.
The policy provides for growth and frames the night time economy is being central to becoming a borough able to compete with the best.
The GLA's London Strategic Licensing Pilot also supports this growth agenda.
Regarding traffic management, Mr. Thomas indicated that the management plan, which is still evolving at the moment, will deal with that. So King Street has a large drop off and pick up area. So for these large events, there will be more event planning that goes into it to make sure that enough transport such as taxis, etc., are available. In fact, we might even have marshalling if it's a particularly big event.
Patrons will be encouraged to use public transport from King Street rather than the taxi rank on Civic Avenue.
In the event of breaches of licence conditions or ongoing issues, licensing enforcement officers or the relevant team will investigate and take appropriate action. The noise team
will specifically investigate any noise complaints. The decision document also notes that every premises license can be challenged in a way. So there is a review application process that can take place if things go wrong.
The licensing authority received representations from local residents, including concerns about increased noise, crime, and public nuisance in a primarily residential area, as well as traffic and congestion from taxis and private hire vehicles. The acoustic assessment report considered the impact on nearby residences
and identified noise sensitive receptors
to the east and west of the site.
The full details of the approved licence conditions can be found in the Decisions 22nd-Sep-2026 18.30 Licensing Sub-Committee.pdf.