Amorino, the ice cream café on Old Compton Street in Soho, has been granted a new licence by Westminster City Council after its previous licence was suspended, apparently without the premises being aware. The new licence includes reduced hours compared to those requested and a set of additional conditions.
Previous licence suspended over unpaid fees
The original licence, issued in 2010, allowed the shop to open until 1am Monday to Saturday and 11pm on Sunday. However, Westminster City Council suspended it due to outstanding annual fees. Amorino has operated from the same site for years, selling gelato and other sweet treats.
Amorino’s recent application, submitted by H2c Gelati Ltd, requested opening hours until 3am seven days a week. Objections were received from authorities including the Met Police, which raised concerns about its location within the West End Cumulative Impact Zone and the hours going beyond the council’s core policy.
Objections from police and local society
The Soho Society, a prominent local amenity group, also submitted a representation. They wrote: “This application by Amorino, an ice cream shop is for a new late night refreshment licence to sell hot chocolate, waffles and crepes indoors, Monday to Sunday unitl [sic] 3am.”
“Reviewing the website we note the opening hours to be 2am Monday - to Thursday, 3am Friday to Saturday and Sunday until 1.30am. We are concerned with the difference in the hours sought from the current opening hours and to the legislation, by which a licence is attached to the premises NOT to the operator. It can be transferred to a different operator with no recourse to them / affected residents.”
The Society added it was requesting the applicant agree to reduce the hours sought to the current opening times, and that Amorino added a condition ensuring it remains primarily an ice cream shop. If agreed, the Society wrote it could envisage withdrawing its representation.
Applicant unaware of suspension
At a Westminster City Council Licensing Sub-Committee meeting it emerged the applicant was not aware its licence had been suspended. A licensing officer confirmed chaser emails had been sent to the listed contact but that no response was received.
PC Steve Muldoon of the Met Police said both he and his colleague had attempted to contact the applicant ahead of the meeting though had been unable to until the day before. He said when he did speak to someone they appeared not to be aware of the shop’s opening hours.
PC Muldoon said: “Similar to the fact they didn’t know they had premises licence, they don’t actually know the shop opening hours, which concerns me. They’re going to potentially get granted a licence but at the minute they don't even know when they’re open.” This was contested by the applicant, who said they run a number of shops and so did not want to get the hours for the Old Compton Street site wrong over the phone.
Richard Brown, a solicitor at Westminster Citizens Advice representing The Soho Society, also said there had been very little engagement from the applicant. He told members the Society had no issue with the café going beyond core hours, noting “the style of operation does make a difference” when considering how late different premises should remain able to open until.
Licence granted with reduced hours and conditions
Following deliberation, members approved the granting of the licence, though rather than a blanket 3am closing time agreed Amorino should stick to its existing hours (10am to 2am Monday to Thursday, until 3am Friday and Saturday, and 1.30am Sunday). A suite of additional conditions were also attached, including limiting deliveries to 11pm until 7am rather than 8am initially proposed.
