Licensing

Licensing is one of 2 things we need to consider when scheduling a Public Venue:

 - Licensing - which is about controlling public spaces and alcohol sales etc

 - Planning - which is about controlling development of all buildings and activities

It covers:

 - Theatre performance

 - Bar events

 - Film, etc

 - Alcohol sales, etc

Ideally we would have alignment between Licensing and Planning restrictions, but if we get more permissive conditions from one regulator we should hold on to them for potential future benefit, and in the interim follow the stricter of the two. 

Main Building

For the Main Building we have alignment between Planning and Licensing.

We can do anything we want (respecting our neighbours) until 3am seven days per week in the Main Building (including the 1m strip over the light-well).

Arcola Outside 

For Arcola Outside we have inherited the old Licensing conditions from the Arcola Tent in 2012, BUT we cannot operate as late as the Licence indicates because we have MORE STRICT PLANNING constraints. Thus regardless of what the Licence says, we have agreed with the Planning Department (24/05/21, email from Ben to Alix Hauser @ LBH Planning):

"10pm for end of show and bar service, then 30 mins for managed dispersal"

This means that:

 - we should finish shows and sell our final drinks by 10pm

 - clean the venue of general public by 10.30pm

 - There is not a strict limitation on when our staff leave the venue, but after 10.30 we need to be quiet and not functioning as a venue - e.g. no late night drinking for staff!

The way licensing works is:

 - We have premises Licenses (one for main building and one for tent)

 - Leyla is our Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) responsible for upholding Licensing compliance (due to a change in law around 2016, her Licence never expires)

 - Leyla delegates responsibility for Licensing compliance to our Bar Manager, Front of House Manager and associated crews.

All the relevant documents are accessible below. Note that there are some out of date copies of our Licence documents in circulation which have the wrong information.

If in doubt ask

Ben

Random offer of services:

Hi Ben, hope that you remember me I was the Hackney Licensing Sergeant before Guy and Chaired all the Licensing Authorities. Now look to help people with their Licensing as a Consultant. Like to work with great people and venues hence the E mail. Please be so kind as to let me know if I can add value from training to advice and Applications, negotiations,problem solving, and Hearings. Best regards Andy Newman Licensing Consultant & Expert Witness +447717834798