Comedy club faces noise objection in City of London bid

The Top Secret Comedy Club is seeking to establish a new venue in the City of London at 10 Fetter Lane, a site that has been vacant for over five years. The club, which already operates two London venues and one in New York, plans to transform the basement and sub-basement space into a dual-performance area with a capacity exceeding 500 people.

Licensing Application Details

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A licensing application has been submitted to the City of London Corporation. The application requests permission to sell alcohol and host shows seven days a week, with operating hours extending until midnight and a half-hour later for dispersal. These hours are intended to offer flexibility for accommodating performances and allowing attendees to leave gradually.

Objections and Concerns

The City of London Corporation's Pollution Control team has lodged an objection to the licensing application. Environmental Health Technician Claire Callan-Day stated that a significant number of the 176 residential flats in nearby St Dunstan's House and Cliffords Inn are likely to be affected by noise. Ms Callan-Day noted that patrons exiting the venue, potentially influenced by alcohol, may generate increased noise levels when recounting show highlights. She concluded that the venue's proximity to residential properties makes it unsuitable for licensing as a comedy club.

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Alderwoman Martha Grekos, representing the Castle Baynard ward, echoed concerns about the area's quiet character. She described the locality near Fetter Lane and Fleet Street as having minimal traffic and low background noise, where conversations and footsteps are audible. Alderwoman Grekos suggested that despite new developments, the corner would remain predominantly residential and quiet, with footfall primarily during business hours.

Support for the Application

Fleet Street Quarter BID, an organisation representing local businesses, has supported the application. Chief Executive Lady Lucy French highlighted that the club's basement location and proposed licensing hours, which are shorter than those of an adjacent pub, could mitigate significant impact. Lady French also stated that the proposal aligns with the City of London Corporation's Destination City programme, aiming to diversify the Square Mile's offerings and complement new developments in the Fleet Street area.

The applicant's legal counsel, Felix Faulkner, argued that the venue is intended as a professional comedy club, not a late-night bar or nightclub, with alcohol sales being ancillary to the main operation. He stated that background noise measurements on Fetter Lane were higher than dispersal times at the club's existing Drury Lane venue. Mark Rothman, Founder of The Top Secret Comedy Club, indicated a willingness to negotiate opening hours while stressing the need for flexibility to host potential high-profile acts. He also mentioned that events would be staggered to manage audience dispersal.

Next Steps

A decision on the licensing application is expected to be issued by the City of London Corporation within five working days following the licensing sub-committee meeting on October 20.