HMV Forum in Kentish Town wins bid for 6am Friday licence

Published: 12 August, 2010
by CHARLOTTE CHAMBERS

ONE of London’s most famous music venues has been told it can stay open until dawn on Friday nights – but not on Saturdays.

Licensing chiefs said the HMV Forum in Kentish Town could keep its doors open until 6am on six special Friday events a year, despite complaints from neighbours concerned about noise and disturbance.

The venue had wanted the special permission to apply to Saturday nights and its manager warned in front of councillors that the business was struggling to stay competitive because of its limited opening hours.

Steve Forster told the licensing panel at a hearing last Thursday that the Forum was losing the chance to book top quality DJs to other venues that can open until 6am for events beginning on Saturday evenings.

Mr Forster said: “There is a very real prospect we will not be able to continue to trade – we have to investigate every option that is open to us.”

Licensing chiefs were, however, not persuaded that residents would not be disturbed by revellers “trickling” out. They instead ruled the late-night events could run on Fridays – but not Saturdays.

Describing what life was like being a neighbour of the iconic art deco building – which has also been a cinema and a dance hall since it first opened – residents told the panel they were regularly woken up and often heard fights and slamming car doors at all hours of the night. 

Many also said they would wake up to find urine and vomit in their gardens and front doors. 

David Hyams of the Inkerman Area Residents Association warned that the “trickle” of people from the venue until 6am would exacerbate what is already a “very unpleasant” problem.

While acknowledging that the Mama Group, the Forum’s owners, have spent more than £1million refurbishing the building, he said residents’ objections are “based on the experience of being woken up”.

He added: “People are tolerant – we’re not a bunch of fuddy-duddies who don’t like pop music. I respect what they’ve done with a listed building. It’s pretty impressive.” 

Liberal Democrat councillor and panel chairman Tom Simon said: “This gives the applicant the opportunity to try out the later hours with the potential of dealing with the problems of the Tubes.”

Speaking after the hearing, Mr Forster said he was disappointed with the late Friday because international DJs wanted to play Saturdays. 

“I think it’s unlikely we’ll do anything [with the new licence],” he added.