To consider an application for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of PM Food & Wine, 526-528 Northumberland Avenue, Reading, RG2 8NY.

The Sub-Committee considered a report and other documents in a bundle with the Notice of Meeting, dated 21 May 2024, on an application for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of PM Food & Wine, 526-528 Northumberland Avenue, Reading, RG2 8NY. The application had been submitted by licensing consultant Mr Manpreet Singh Kapoor on behalf of Mr Bhupinder Singh Talwar. A copy of the Premises Licence Application Form was attached to the report at Appendix TS-1.

The report stated that the application was for the grant of a Premises Licence to permit the following licensable activities:

Hours for the Sale by Retail of Alcohol (Off Sales):

Monday from           0700hrs until 2300hrs

Tuesday from          0700hrs until 2300hrs

Wednesday from     0700hrs until 2300hrs

Thursday from         0700hrs until 2300hrs

Friday from              0700hrs until 2300hrs

Saturday from         0700hrs until 2300hrs

Sunday from           0700hrs until 2300hrs

Hours the Premises is Open to the Public:

Monday from           0700hrs until 2300hrs

Tuesday from          0700hrs until 2300hrs

Wednesday from     0700hrs until 2300hrs

Thursday from         0700hrs until 2300hrs

Friday from              0700hrs until 2300hrs

Saturday from         0700hrs until 2300hrs

Sunday from           0700hrs until 2300hrs

A copy of the conditions agreed between Reading Borough Council’s Licensing Team, Thames Valley Police and the Applicant had been attached to the report at Appendix TS-2.

During the 28-day consultation period for the application four representations had been received by Reading Borough Council from local residents and an interested party. Copies of the representations were attached to the report as appendices TS-3 to TS-6. Reading Borough Council’s Licensing Team, acting as a Responsible Authority, had also submitted a representation which had subsequently been withdrawn after conditions had been agreed with the applicant.

The report stated that in determining the application the Licensing Authority had a duty to carry out its functions with a view to promoting the four licensing objectives, as follows:

·       The prevention of crime and disorder;

·       Public safety;

·       The prevention of public nuisance;

·       The protection of children from harm.

The report stated that any decision made in relation to the Premises Licence should be appropriate and proportionate with a view to promoting the licensing objectives. The Licensing Authority could amend, alter, or refuse an application should it be deemed appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives. The report stated that, when determining the application, the Licensing Authority must also have regard to the representations received, the Licensing Authority’s Statement of Licensing Policy and any relevant section of the statutory guidance issued to licensing authorities by the Secretary of State.

The report set out paragraphs 1.6, 3.1, 3.2, 5.6, 5.7, 6.1, 6.2, 6.5, 6.18, 7.2, 7.3, 7.6, 8.6, 10.1 and 10.3 from the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy. The report also set out paragraphs 1.2 to 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.7, 9.12, 9.13, 9.38, 9.39, 9.42 and 9.43 from the Secretary of State’s Guidance to the Licensing Act 2003 issued in December 2023.

Mr Surendra Panchal, PLC Limited, the applicant's representative, attended the meeting, addressed the Sub-Committee on the application and answered questions. Mr Bhupinder Singh Talwar, the Applicant, also attended the meeting and addressed the Sub-Committee. Anthony Chawama, RBC Licensing Officer, attended presented the report and addressed the Sub-Committee. Peter Narancic, RBC Licensing Officer, also attended.

None of the objectors or interested parties attended the meeting.

In reaching their decision the Sub-Committee gave due consideration to the written evidence contained in the paperwork and the oral evidence presented at the meeting and to the relevant legislation and guidance; and the policies of Reading Borough Council.

Resolved –

(1)           That, after taking into consideration the Licensing Act 2003, the Secretary of State’s Guidance issued under section 182 of that Act and Reading Borough Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and having considered the likely effect that granting the application would have on the promotion of the four Licensing Objectives:

·       the prevention of crime and disorder,

·       public safety;

·       the prevention of public nuisance; and

·       the protection of children from harm

and having considered the written and oral representations received from the Applicant and their agent, the professional representations made by the Reading Borough Council’s Licensing Team which incorporated matters raised during liaison with the police and having read and considered the representations received by the Council from local residents and an interested party, the Sub-Committee agreed to grant the Premises Licence, to allow the following licensable activities:

Hours for the Sale by Retail of Alcohol (Off Sales):

Monday from           0700hrs until 2300hrs

Tuesday from          0700hrs until 2300hrs

Wednesday from     0700hrs until 2300hrs

Thursday from         0700hrs until 2300hrs

Friday from              0700hrs until 2300hrs

Saturday from         0700hrs until 2300hrs

Sunday from            0700hrs until 2300hrs

Hours the Premises is Open to the Public:

Monday from           0700hrs until 2300hrs

Tuesday from          0700hrs until 2300hrs

Wednesday from     0700hrs until 2300hrs

Thursday from         0700hrs until 2300hrs

Friday from              0700hrs until 2300hrs

Saturday from         0700hrs until 2300hrs

Sunday from            0700hrs until 2300hrs

subject to the conditions that had been agreed between Thames Valley Police, Reading Borough Council and the Applicant as set out in Appendix TS-2 to the report.