Decision - Hove Pizza Plaice Licensing Panel (Licensing Act 2003 Functions)

Application for a New Premises Licence under the Licensing act 2003

Licensing Panel (Licensing Act 2003 Functions) - Notification of the Determination of Panel. Licensing panel hearing held virtually via Teams on Friday 1st August 2025 in respect of the application for a premises licence in respect of premises known as Hove Pizza Plaice, 162 Portland Road, Hove BN3 5QL The panel has read all the papers and has considered the written representations, and all submissions made at the hearing. The panel has also had regard to its Statement of Licensing Policy (SoLP) and the statutory guidance. The application is for the provision of late-night refreshment for collection and delivery from 23:00 hours to 04:00 hours every day. During the hearing the applicant amended the application to 02:00 hours every day for delivery only and indicated agreement to the police conditions. The premises are not in the Cumulative Impact Zone or Special Stress area, but the Matrix approach in the SoLP indicates midnight terminal hour for takeaways in other areas. Relevant representations were received from Sussex Police, the Licensing Authority and Environmental Protection Team. The concerns raised related to the prevention of crime and disorder, and prevention of public nuisance. The police had put forward a set of conditions to mitigate risk should the panel be minded to grant the application. The police concerns focus on the residential nature of the area and the existence of crimes during the day and the likelihood of these increasing into the night. They did not believe any exceptional circumstances had been shown. Their conditions were based on the premises operating for deliveries only to 01:00. The environmental protection officer spoke to her representation and the complaint from the flat above regarding noise and odour from the extraction unit and oven. Her concern was that there was likely to be more impact in terms of noise and disturbance at noise sensitive times after 23:00 hours so as to cause a public nuisance. The premises had taken some steps to reduce the noise and vibration, and the complaints had subsided but there was still potential for noise nuisance. She had put forward some conditions to mitigate risk if the panel granted the application but did not support it. The licensing authority welcomed the reduction in hours by the applicant but the application was still contrary to the Matrix. The area did not have late night opening much beyond 1am. The applicants said that public nuisance would be prevented by closing the premises to the public and operating deliveries only. They would have measures in place such as notices and were willing to join the BCRP. Care would be taken to ensure delivery drivers were quiet and respected residents. They had taken measures to reduce noise from the oven and extraction fan and wanted to work with all the authorities. The panel and other parties were able to question the applicant and canvass measures and conditions. The panel has considered this application carefully on its merits and in view of the concerns raised. Taking into account the nature of the area which is residential in the surrounding roads, the panel considers it is appropriate to grant the application for late night refreshment from 23:00 to Midnight (00:00) Sunday to Thursday and from 23:00 hours to 02:00 hours Friday (into Saturday) and Saturday (into Sunday). This will be for deliveries only. The panel considers that the applicants demonstrated a willingness to minimise noise and deal with the extraction fan and oven. They had met the requirements of the Responsible Authority in terms of the Police and were willing to agree to the additional condition of joining the BCRP. The panel is therefore willing to permit a departure from the Matrix for Friday and Saturday. The panel considers it is justified in imposing earlier closing times during the week given the nature of the area and the potential for public nuisance and this is in line with the SoLP. The panel considers that the robust set of conditions agreed with the police and some of those from Environmental Protection will promote the licensing objectives. The application is therefore granted with the hours as above and with the conditions agreed with the police 1 to 14 amended to reflect the revised hours granted. Thus condition 8 should read: All deliveries will leave the premises by 0:00 (midnight) Sunday to Thursday and by 02:00 hours Friday (into Saturday) and Saturday (into Sunday) and the premises will be closed after those times. There will be a new condition 15 as follows: The premises will become a member of the Brighton Crime Reduction Partnership or similar scheme approved by the Licensing Authority. The scheme must operate, subject to local coverage, radios and additionally an exclusion/banning scheme of named individuals within both the day and nighttime economy. The panel attaches 2 further conditions from Environmental Protection team: 16: Delivery personnel will only collect at the counter and will wait

The application by Perfect Pizza Place Ltd for Hove Pizza Plaice to provide late-night refreshment from 23:00 to 04:00 every day is opposed by Brighton & Hove City Council, its Environmental Protection Team and Sussex Police. The representations cite conflict with the Council’s licensing policy, possible crime and disorder, and likely public nuisance from noise, smells and late-night deliveries.