Agenda item

Simply Pleasure.Com, 31 Brewer Street, W1

18/00005/LISEXR

An application to renew the sex establishment licence to operate as a sex shop.

Amendments to application advised at hearing:

None.

Decision (including reasons if different from those set out in report):

Mr Timothy Martin Hemming (Applicant Company) began by stating that he had operated sex establishment premises since 1995. As well as these premises, he also operated two other sex establishment premises in Westminster, Prowler Soho in Brewer Street and Fifty & Dean in Old Compton Street. Mr Hemming stated that Simply Pleasure.Com was regularly visited by Council officers who would inspect the store in detail and had expressed no concerns. There had also been no objections from Ward Councillors. Mr Hemming referred to the objector who had raised concerns about the premises being in close proximity to a local nursery and a primary school and the impact this may have on children. Mr Hemming stated that he was a parent of four children and took the issue of protecting children from harmful images very seriously. He also strongly supported the Digital Economy Act 2017 which sought to restrict access to online pornography. Mr Hemming stated that the nearby primary school, whose playground faced the rear entrance of the premises, had neither objected to the application nor made any complaints.

Mr Hemming stated that he took policy seriously, the premise was well-run and staff ensured that no underage people entered the premises. He added that the concerns raised by the objector were more relevant in respect of unlicensed sex establishment premises in the area.

The Sub-Committee asked if any conditions on the licence had ever been breached and clarification was sought in respect of opening hours on Sundays. Members also asked if Mr Hemming had been able to speak to the objector about the concerns they had raised.

In reply, Mr Hemming confirmed that there had been no breach of conditions at the premises and that it opened on Sundays from 11:00 to 22:00. He had not been able to speak to the objector but acknowledged the objector’s opinions.

Barry Panto (Legal Adviser) sought confirmation that there had been no complaints about the premises from the Soho Family Centre Nursery and the Soho Parish Church of England Primary School. Mr Hemming confirmed that there had been no complaints from either of these establishments.

The Sub-Committee granted the renewal of the sex establishment licence with the existing conditions on the licence. In determining the application, the Sub-Committee took into account the representation from the local resident about concerns the impact the premises may have on children, but did not consider that this provided any grounds to refuse the application. In addition, the Sub-Committee noted that neither Soho Family Centre Nursey, nor Soho Parish Church of England Primary Soho, had made representations or made any complaints. The Sub-Committee also noted that neither the Police nor Environmental Health had made representations and there had been no reported beaches of conditions. The Sub-Committee therefore considered that renewing the licence with the existing conditions was appropriate in all circumstances of the case.