Statement of Licensing Policy (2008) WCC - Westminster City Council

Introduction/definitions2.5.34 These policies apply to premises where there is the provision of entertainment orfacilities for entertainment. They apply to venues with facilities for enabling persons totake part in entertainment for the purpose of being entertained such as: making music,dancing in night clubs or entertainment of a similar description to music and dancingsuch as karaoke (see Glossary). Generally these venues also serve alcohol. TheStress Area boundaries are shown on the maps at Appendix 15.Music and dancing or similar entertainment outside theStress AreasPolicy MD1Applications will only be granted if the proposal meets the relevant criteria in PoliciesCD1, PS1, PN1 and CH1.Music and dancing or similar entertainment within theStress AreasPolicy MD2It is the Licensing Authority’s policy to refuse applications in the Stress Areas, otherthan applications to vary hours within the Core Hours, under Policy HRS1.Reasons for Policies MD1 & MD22.5.35 Music and dance venues are an important part of London’s entertainment offer.Night clubs are an inherent part of the social life for many young people in Britain.However the provision of music and dancing, especially with amplifi ed music, andthe large numbers of people attending venues and congregating outside them, canlead to concerns over public nuisance and in some cases crime and disorder. Nightclub premises in Westminster had more reports of violent crime per premises thanany other types of licensed premises in the past year (see addition to Appendix 12).The police’s experience is that some people who visit music and dance venuescarry controlled drugs for recreational use or to sell to others. Entertainment by theperformance of dance does not generally give rise to these concerns to the samedegree, but the playing of music and the noise from the audience can give rise tonuisance. If the dance performance involves nudity or partial nudity Policy NS1 willapply.64