Southgate Social- MEQ

Dear Cllr Stephanos Ioannou,

I write in response to your query regarding Southgate Social Club, 6 The Broadway, Southgate Circus, Southgate, N14 6PH.

The club does have a premises licence but not for the sale of alcohol. In their application the applicant indicated that people may bring their own alcohol, and this is permitted as it is the sale of alcohol that requires a licence not the consumption of alcohol.

I arranged for officers to visit the premises on Friday evening as I thought this the best time to see what was going on inside but when they arrived at 20:40 the premises was closed. They noted that there were three people standing outside smoking but that they were from a nearby restaurant not the club.

I shall visit the club myself this week and see if they are open. If not, I shall task the team to try again during their next Out of Hours shift.

If the club had a licence to sell alcohol and there was no requirement for the alcohol to only to be served with a meal the premises would be permitted to provide some gambling but there are strict limits on the stakes and prizes permitted. As they dont have an alcohol licence any games played must be for fun only and any gaming machines must be Skill machines rather than games of chance.

There is nothing on the licence that prevents the premises from tinting their windows. I have contacted Planning Enforcement to see if this is a matter that they can look into but it is only likely to be an issue for them if the premises is in a conservation area.

Kind Regards
Senior Licensing Enforcement Officer

Original enquiry description:

Good morning team I want to bring to your attention situation in Southgate that is very concerning not only for business owners but also residents and the wide community. Particularly I am talking about the Southgate social that has recently opened up on Dennis Parade next to the circus this premises is intended to be a normal social club. I believe they are selling alcohol? What is more concerning is reports by members of the public that people are going in there and actually gambling this is entirely not in line with their license and must be investigated as soon as possible and if so their license should be revoked the windows are tinted. The windows are blacked out is bad enough as it is that people cannot see inside and this is actually quite intimidating and looks really tatty for the High Street it looks like something shady is happening behind those doors. Can I please ask the department to go in there investigate