Have your say on our Statement of Licensing Policy
We are asking residents to comment on the proposed changes to our Statement of Licensing Policy.
The Licensing Act 2003 requires all local councils to update and consult on any changes to their draft Statement of Licensing Policy every five years.
The policy is in place to ensure that licensed premises in Royal Greenwich are not the source of, or contributors towards, crime and disorder or public nuisance, and that they promote public safety and have measures in place to protect children from harm. A recent example of a premises that breached their licence is 300 Lounge in Greenwich, the business pled guilty and was prosecuted for noise nuisance in November 2024.
The council will adopt the policy when it considers licensing applications from businesses that sell or supply alcohol, provide entertainment, or sell hot food or drink between 11pm and 5am.
Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement, said:
“Having a Licensing Policy in place is important so we as a council, can ensure that businesses in the borough are informed of the best practise on how to run their licensed premises and to ensure public safety comes first.
“We want our communities to have their say and give us feedback on our Statement of Licensing Policy so we can uphold our duty of enforcing the licensing conditions in a way that most benefits residents.”
The policy aims to inform licence applicants of how the council will make licence decisions, ensure applicants are clear about how licensed premises are expected to operate, to support the police and the council to manage and act against premises that are causing problems, and to encourage businesses to adopt practices that reflect the needs of the local community.
The main changes to the policy include new guidance around counter terrorism, tackling male violence against women and girls, welfare and vulnerability engagement, and rewritten sections on monitoring the impact of alcohol sales, public health, and garages. Other changes include additional measures for licence applications around The Valley stadium, the planned Night-Time Economy zones in Greenwich and Woolwich and updates to Cumulative Impact Zone data.
Have your say and let us know your thoughts on the Statement of Licensing Policy by Sunday 7 September 2025.
Complete the consultation here.
Following the closing date, the Statement will be updated and re-published in January 2026 to reflect the feedback received during the consultation.