Westminster City Council has granted permission for a basement bar on Goodge Street to stay open until 1am in the week and until 2am from Thursday to Saturday, despite objections from local residents and community groups.
At a licensing sub-committee on Thursday 26 March, councillors Aziz Toki (Labour, Church Street), Md Shamsed Chowdhury (Labour, Hyde Park) and Caroline Sargent (Conservative, Abbey Road) discussed the application submitted by The London Cocktail Club Ltd for the venue known as Hidden Society.
Objections were received from residents living near the basement bar who voiced concerns over Hidden Society’s proximity to residential property and smokers “congregating” outside their doors.
A spokesperson for the group wrote: “Smokers tend to concentrate in the area right outside their doors, forcing them to keep their windows shut even when it was very hot outside.
“We oppose the application to extend the hours, as it would cause further public nuisance to the long-suffering residents living in close proximity to the premises.”
It previously closed to the public at 11.30pm from Monday to Thursday, 12am from Friday to Saturday and 10.30pm on Sunday.
In another written objection, a spokesperson for the Charlotte Street Association residents group said: “The later hours asked for would give rise to an increase in public nuisance, negatively affecting people living nearby.
“Goodge Street and the surrounding streets is a residential area and the amenity of residents would be undermined by the inevitable noise nuisance from people attending and leaving the premises in the early hours of the morning.”
The Metropolitan Police made no representations or objections regarding the application. While the Environmental Health team at Westminster agreed to a number of new conditions with the applicant, the officer stated they still did not support the requested hours. Their proposed conditions included ensuring anyone smoking did so in an orderly fashion without obstructing the public highway.
The newly proposed opening hours would be supported by a series of new licensing conditions. These include having a minimum of one SIA-licensed door supervisor from 9pm until close Thursday through Saturday. Residents living nearby will also have access to a direct phone line to the premises to improve communication.
Hidden Society would have a strict no entry policy for under 18s, a comprehensive CCTV system and staff trained in welfare and Ask Angela policy. The new terms would also include implementing a comprehensive dispersal policy “to ensure that patrons behave in an ordered and responsible manner as they leave the premises”.
A summary decision published on Monday 30 March granted permission for the sale of alcohol until 30 minutes past minute the following morning from Monday to Wednesday, and until 1.30am from Thursday to Saturday. Sunday hours are extended to 11.30pm.
Permission was also given for the venue to stay open to serve late night refreshment until 1am from Monday to Wednesday and until 2am from Thursday to Saturday. With Sunday hours extended to midnight.
Westminster City Council, Licensing Sub-Committee (1) – Thursday 26 March 2026. Agenda. Webcast.
Additional reporting by Linus Rees.
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