Residents oppose Sipsmith’s application to extend licensing hours at its Chiswick distillery

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was recently given a tour of the Sipsmith distillery 

Sipsmith want to be able to offer three tours of the distillery a day on weekdays and two on Saturdays

Residents who live near the Sipsmith gin distillery in Cranbrook Road are opposing an application by the company to extend its licensing hours.

The distillery has applied to Hounslow Council for licence to serve alcohol six days a week from 12.00 noon until 9.00pm both on and off their premises at 83 Cranbrook Road.

Residents of Cranbrook Road and Chiswick Lane have submitted a petition to the Council with 53 signatures expressing concern the extension might encourage an increase in ‘crime and disorder’ and ‘public nuisance’.

The application will be heard by the Council’s Licensing Panel on Monday 9 February. So far they have received 41 representations from interested parties who are concerned, and one in support.

The distillery already has a licence, which they have held for the past ten years, to serve alcohol from 5 – 7 pm on weekdays for evening tours with a talk about the history of gin and how it is made and the chance to sample a variety of the spirits they make there.

By extending the tours earlier in the daytime and later into the evening they are looking to hold three tours a day on weekdays and two on Saturdays.

The entrance to the distillery at the Chiswick Lane end of Cranbrook Road

The extension will create ‘disturbance incompatible with the quiet enjoyment of nearby homes and gardens’, says one resident

Objectors say residents would be directly affected by the extension of licensing hours and that the original licence application was strongly opposed ten years ago.

Allowing the new licence would create ‘evening and weekend noise, on-street congregation, taxi movements, congestion affecting emergency access and disturbance incompatible with the quiet enjoyment of nearby homes and gardens’.

One objector writes:

‘We remember the time before strict licensing restrictions were imposed on Sipsmith distillery: the large noisy groups walking up and down our road, the drunken behaviour after the tours, the noise coming from the premises. No regard for the residents. It was awful’.

Apart from the distillery at one end and the businesses on Chiswick High Road at the other, Cranbrook Road is an entirely residential road.

Domino’s pizza chain tried recently to extend their takeaway hours until 1am, which was strongly opposed by residents, and turned down by the Council as likely to cause a public nuisance.

READ ALSO: Domino’s extended licensing hours refused in Chiswick High Road

The bar inside the distillery where people congregate for the tour

Alcohol licence applicants are required to meet certain conditions covering public safety, the prevention of crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.

Sipsmith’s conditions are that they will escort guests to the main gates when leaving the premises (closing time 9.30pm) in order to minimise noise and disturbance to local residents; there shall be no more than six smokers to be permitted to smoke outside the premises at any one time; and off sales must be in sealed containers only.

Alcohol for consumption on the premises shall only be supplied to persons attending a pre-booked tour of the distillery or attending a private pre-booked private tour; and anyone who looks to be under the age of 25 will be asked for a recognised photographic proof of age.

There shall be a maximum of three pre-booked tours per day Monday to Friday and two pre-booked tours on a Saturday; and the total number of attendees permitted to attend any pre-booked tour at any one time will be 35 (excluding staff).

‘Many have no objection to the application’, says another resident

The one resident who has written in support of the application says:

‘I have had no issues with them being our neighbours since they arrived. They have always respected the local neighbourhood and been good neighbours …

‘I remember when Sipsmiths applied for their original licence which caused some controversy, however since it was granted they have not caused any disturbance to the local residents.

‘Upon speaking to other neighbours both closer to the venue and further away, as our road is rather long, many have no objection to the application that has been submitted, contrary to what some of the residents opposing would have everyone believe’.

Sipsmith is a member of The Chiswick Calendar’s Club Card scheme, offering free tours of the distillery to our Club Card holders.

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