A South London Spanish restaurant and bar accused of generating noise akin to a nightclub has retained its licence but must adhere to stricter conditions after a council review.
Licence Review and New Conditions
Civaena 2 España Bar y Restaurant in New Cross faced a review by Lewisham Council's Licensing Sub-Committee following multiple complaints about noise nuisance and disorderly behaviour linked to the venue. At a hearing on June 10, the committee reduced the basement area's operating hours and required the creation of a noise management plan, subject to approval by licensing officers.
The venue's legal representative acknowledged management shortcomings, particularly regarding noise control and customer dispersal. The previous Designated Premises Supervisor, removed under the new conditions, had failed to engage with residents and the licensing authority.
Breaches of Licensing Conditions
The licensing authority initiated the review, citing failures to uphold objectives related to public nuisance prevention and crime and disorder, along with repeated breaches of licence conditions. After the venue extended basement hours in September 2025, complaints about noise and disturbance escalated.
On March 14, 2026, an Anti-Social Behaviour and Statutory Nuisance Officer assessed noise from a nearby property, deeming it loud enough to cause a nuisance. The venue was also found to have breached 11 licence conditions during that visit.
Resident Testimonies
An anonymous resident expressed support for local businesses but criticized the impact on residents' peace. She stated, "I have never experienced anything like this in my life. I have lived here for 16 years... Our road is peaceful for 16 years and now it is like a football stadium every single Saturday and Sunday evening." She compared the venue to a nightclub.
Shaun Rodway, a police licensing officer, described the 11 breaches as "shocking" and noted the venue's lack of consideration for licence conditions designed to uphold licensing objectives.
Another resident reported that on weekends, loud bass-heavy music played from 10pm to 5am, affecting sleep and wellbeing. He said, "The bass means earplugs offer limited relief as the vibrations carry through our mattresses."
Venue's Response and Committee Decision
The venue's legal representative attributed issues to management failures and stated that a sound engineer would recalibrate the sound limiter to address bass problems. He also mentioned plans for noise abatement control to measure sound levels.
The committee amended terminal hours: Sunday to Thursday until 12am, and Friday and Saturday until 1am. Licensable activities in the basement must end by 11:30pm Sunday to Thursday and 12:30am on weekends.
A resident concluded, "We just want to have peace and the ability to sleep at night peacefully." The venue's representative assured that the licence holder was taking appropriate steps and hoped to run the business in a neighbourly manner.
