A Thornton Heath club has lost its appeal against Croydon Council’s decision to reduce its opening hours and its hours for the sale of alcohol and other licensable activities at weekends.
The appeal of Kibuuka Fred Kyeyune, premises licence holder of Club 791, was heard at Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court last week (22) following a second application from the police, in February 2016, for a summary review of his premises licence.
The police said the club, at 791 London Road, Thornton Heath, was associated with serious crime and/or serious disorder and asked the council to impose an interim suspension of the licence.
The licence was reviewed because of incidents that took place on 24 January 2016 when a member of staff was assaulted and on 6 February 2016 when the same group of men forced entry to the club.
The council suspended the licence pending a full review hearing and on 10 March 2016 the licensing sub-committee ruled to modify rather than revoke the licence. Kyeyune lodged the appeal against the sub-committee’s decision later that month.
The police had previously applied for a summary review of the premises licence following a serious incident in October 2015 when a customer was stabbed in the neck in the premises.
Kyeyune argued that there had been no serious crime/disorder between that incident and February 2016, but the court dismissed the appeal, finding that the incidents on these dates were a result of continued failing by the licence holder to put proper procedures in place.
Councillor Hamida Ali, cabinet member for communities, safety and justice
“On 10 March 2016, the council’s licensing sub-committee thought long and hard about what measures would be appropriate to reduce the risk of serious incidents happening at these premises.
“They took the decision to reduce the opening hours and the hours for licensable activities at weekends and it’s reassuring that, after listening to nearly two and a half days of evidence and legal argument, the district judge has come to the same conclusion in upholding the decision of the sub-committee and dismissing this appeal.”
Costs were awarded in the council’s favour.
