Licensee wins High Court appeal over pub closing hours

The case followed a firearms incident near pub/nightclub the Black George in Ealing, west London. It is owned by a company called Little France.

After a full review hearing, the licensing sub-committee said that a number of restrictions should be imposed on the licence. This included closing the nightclub area in the basement at 2am.

However, the sub-committee did not give any reasons as to why it had made this decision. When the case went to the Magistrates’ Court, it also failed to give explanations.

The Magistrate’s Court said that the decision was “proportionate”, that there had been a catalogue of problems, that the nightclub was located in a mixed commercial/residential area and complaints had been received and that the decision to limit the hours of the nightclub was “reasonable”.

Therefore the appeal was dismissed.

When the case went to the High Court, it found that the Magistrates’ Court had to give reasons of its own on the closing hours; failed to show how the restriction of hours was necessary; and failed to take into account of the applicant’s entitlement to a reasoned decision.

Licensing firm Dadds handled the case.