Suntory World Spirits-owned gin producer Sipsmith has submitted a brand new premises licence utility for its flagship distillery in Chiswick, west London, which has been met by objections from native residents.
The distillery, which first opened in 2014, is positioned on Cranbrook Highway, a small residential road in Chiswick simply off the district’s Excessive Highway.
In 2015, the model utilized to the native council for permission to promote alcohol between 12pm and 1am Monday to Saturday for personal pre-booked occasions.
After complaints from residents who mentioned the proposal would have an effect on high quality of life in what’s a “quiet household space”, the distillery amended the appliance to hunt a licence between 12pm and 8pm Monday to Saturday, with permission to host tour teams of as much as 45 folks.
Regardless of the compromise, the council granted Sipsmith a licence from 5pm to 7pm on weekdays solely, with a restriction of 25 folks on website at one time.
The newest licensing utility from Sipsmith has requested permission to promote alcohol for consumption each on and off the premises from 12pm to 9pm on each day of the week, beginning ‘ASAP’.
The applying, submitted on 15 December 2025, acknowledged: “Attributable to altering buyer calls for, a brand new premises licence utility has been utilized for to raised match the consumer’s operation in an evolving financial local weather. A residents assembly has been held with native residents previous to submission, to advise them of the modifications and to commit Sipsmiths’ future to the distillery in the neighborhood.”
The proposal additionally contains rising the variety of pre-booked distillery excursions to a few per day throughout the week and two on Saturdays, with a most capability of 35 friends per tour.
With the appliance, Sipsmith included info on how it will meet all situations of an prolonged licence, addressing the prevention of crime and dysfunction, public security, the prevention of public nuisance, and the safety of youngsters from hurt.
These measures embody: the implementation of a CCTV system with 31-day recording retention, the upkeep of an in depth incident log, and protocols for preserving crime scenes within the occasion of an assault; all friends to be escorted to the principle gates when leaving the premises to minimise noise and disturbance to native residents; the ‘problem 25’ scheme in place with all employees absolutely skilled to make sure they adjust to the legislation in relation to underage gross sales; all alcohol for consumption on the premises solely equipped to individuals attending a pre-booked tour of the distillery or attending a personal pre-booked non-public tour; and no particular person miniatures (50ml) to be bought for quick consumption off the premises, save for miniatures offered throughout the present bag of tour friends.
Native fears
Nonetheless, as soon as once more, the proposal has met with vital resistance from a big portion of the neighbourhood.
In response to native publication Chiswick W4, dozens of formal objections have been filed, citing considerations over public nuisance, public security, and the “materials intensification” of alcohol-led exercise in a road dwelling to roughly 60 residential properties.
Greater than 50 feedback are mentioned to have been submitted in opposition to the appliance, with objectors arguing that the slender, one-way road can not accommodate the elevated footfall, taxi actions, and potential noise from night and weekend excursions.
One resident wrote: “The quick neighborhood includes roughly 60 residential properties, together with greater than 30 flats (together with social housing), a lot of which straight again onto the premises. Residents would subsequently be straight affected by any improve in alcohol-related exercise.”
They added: “The applying seeks to introduce routine alcohol consumption into evenings and Saturdays and Sundays, materially intensifying use in contrast with the beforehand accepted working mannequin.
“This provides rise to credible dangers of night and weekend noise, on-street congregation, taxi actions, congestion affecting emergency entry, and disturbance incompatible with the quiet enjoyment of close by properties and gardens.”
One other criticism alleged: “What they suggest now’s to show their premises from an industrial unit right into a gin theme park.”
There are additionally fears that the licence may enable for amplified music and bigger crowds of as much as 500 folks underneath nationwide deregulation legal guidelines, successfully turning the location right into a “de facto occasions venue”.
Nonetheless, the appliance has discovered assist from one neighbour who praised Sipsmith as a “respectable” and “good neighbour” that has revered the world since its arrival.
The resident wrote: “I really feel that Sipsmith as a neighborhood enterprise must be inspired to proceed their efforts to take care of a sustainable enterprise, even when that features revisions to the licence already granted to them, and I wholeheartedly assist them.
“The clientele they entice aren’t the kind of one that trigger hurt or are delinquent in any approach. So far as I’m conscious, there has by no means been a difficulty with noise air pollution or different points that detract from the peacefulness of a residential space.
“Upon chatting with different neighbours, each nearer to the venue and additional away, as our street is slightly lengthy, many don’t have any objection to the appliance that has been submitted, opposite to what a number of the residents opposing would have everybody consider.”
The Metropolitan Police has not objected to the appliance however has mandated the strict situations that Sipsmith has agreed to undertake, as listed above.
The Spirits Enterprise has contacted Sipsmith for remark and is awaiting reply.
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