Managers of a bar near Twickenham's Allianz Stadium have been granted a new licence with tighter conditions, despite opposition from its owners and neighbours.
Richmond Council's licensing committee ruled the strict licence would prevent the unacceptable disturbance caused by punters at The Scrummery on Whitton Road, after acknowledging residents' concerns that issues would persist.
The authority reviewed the venue's licence on June 10 following a request from residents who reported severe disruption on rugby days, including excessive noise and drunken behaviour since new operators took over.
Karen and Colin Griffiths opened the venue in 1996 near Allianz Stadium, formerly known as Twickenham Stadium, before letting the business to Bijal and Rupesh Soni in 2021.
The committee considered a review of the licence, still held by the Griffiths, and an application by the Sonis for a new licence with stricter conditions to address concerns.
Residents reported loud music continuing long after matches, punters urinating in gardens, harassing women, and blocking pavements.
Objecting residents and the Griffiths opposed granting a new licence to the Sonis over fears problems would continue.
The committee heard the Sonis had met with owners, licensing officers, and the Met Police after complaints in 2023, setting out plans to address concerns. However, further complaints about disruption on match days last year led to another meeting in January.
The Griffiths said they had issued a Section 25 eviction notice to reclaim the venue by August 31, which the Sonis' legal representative said they would challenge in court.
Lib Dem councillor Katie Mansfield said the venue ran more like a disco in central Soho on match days. She stated: "We are not against this running as a business. It's the way it's running and the fact that it is running for too long and in ways that are harming the local community."
Neighbour Amanda Bail said noise since 2021 had been intolerable, and aggressive behaviour from punters made locals feel unsafe. She added: "What's gone from a very small café that used to serve hotdogs and burgers on rugby day has become a fully-fledged mini nightclub with major brewery sponsorship."
Another neighbour, David Squires, said residents had tried all reasonable means to address issues but saw no real change.
Colin Griffiths said they let the business on the basis it was a sushi restaurant, with no mention of running it as a bar. He said they worked with licensing officers only to find operators reverting to bad practices, adding: "This is a lifetime's work for Karen. She's heartbroken by what's happened."
Barrister Gary Grant, representing the Sonis, said the new licence would resolve complaints. He noted The Scrummery was not alone in contributing to issues on Whitton Road, as it is a key route to the stadium with three off-licences. He said most people congregating on the road were not its customers.
The Sonis had implemented measures after earlier meetings, and licensing experts observed the venue during matches on April 26 and May 16, ruling the measures worked, though residents said these were smaller matches.
Mrs Soni told the meeting: "We have made mistakes, I'm not saying we haven't, and we want to rectify and make it right."
The committee granted the new licence, deeming the strict conditions appropriate and proportionate to prevent future issues. The decision report stated the licence makes the Sonis legally accountable, and any breaches could lead to a review or criminal offence.
The licence requires the bar to stop selling alcohol by 9pm and close by 10pm. The venue must also cap courtyard capacity at 20 people, remove outside speakers, use a noise-limiting device, prevent customers spilling outside, and hold regular meetings with residents.
