London Cocktail Club's new 'speak easy' bar wants to stay open until 2am

Hidden Society is a more “elevated” drinking experience in the heart of Fitzrovia, the owners claim

London Cocktail Club’s new “speak easy” style bar wants to stay open until 2am over the weekend. The rebranded venue, now called Hidden Society, will offer customers a “more elevated” drinking experience, according to the licensing application.

Objections to the application were discussed at a Westminster City Council Licensing Sub Committee last Thursday (March 26). In a written report, Fitzrovia locals living near the basement bar voiced concerns over Hidden Society’s proximity to residential property and smokers “congregating” outside their doors.

A spokesperson for the group wrote: “Smokers tend to concentrate in the area right outside their doors, forcing them to keep their windows shut even when it was very hot outside.

“We oppose the application to extend the hours, as it would cause further public nuisance to the long-suffering residents living in close proximity to the premises.”

If approved, Hidden Society would close its doors at 1am from Monday to Wednesday, 2am from Thursday to Saturday and 12am on Sunday. The venue has also applied to operate all night long on New Year’s Eve.

It previously closed to the public at 11.30pm from Monday to Thursday, 12am from Friday to Saturday and 10.30pm on Sunday. Alcohol sales would finish half-an-hour before general closing time.

In another written objection, a spokesperson for the Charlotte Street Association said: “The later hours asked for would give rise to an increase in public nuisance, negatively affecting people living nearby.

“Goodge Street and the surrounding streets is a residential area and the amenity of residents would be undermined by the inevitable noise nuisance from people attending and leaving the premises in the early hours of the morning.”

The newly rebranded venue offers an “elevated service”, which the applicant says will have capacity for 80 people. Music will be “ambient” which will mediate some of the noise concerns, with the extended opening times allowing for more control over customers exiting, the applicant added. Councillors have also proposed an additional condition of a 12.30am cut-off time for last entry.

The Metropolitan Police made no representations or objections regarding the application. While the Environmental Health team at Westminster agreed to a number of new conditions with the applicant, the officer stated they still did not support the requested hours. Their proposed conditions included ensuring anyone smoking did so in an orderly fashion without obstructing the public highway.

The newly proposed opening hours would be supported by a series of new licensing conditions. These include having an minimum of one SIA-licensed door supervisor from 9pm until close Thursday through Saturday. Residents living nearby will also have access to a direct phone line to the premises to improve communication.

Hidden Society would have a strict no entry policy for under 18s, a comprehensive CCTV system and staff trained in welfare and Ask Angela policy. The new terms would also include implementing a comprehensive dispersal policy “to ensure that patrons behave in an ordered and responsible manner as they leave the premises”.

A decision is due to be made within around five working days of the Licensing Sub Committee meeting.

Got a story? Please get in touch at katherine.gray@reachplc.com

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