Pub approved next to school despite teachers’ concerns over pupils drinking

Licensing authorities have approved a new pub next to an esteemed high school despite teachers’ pleas students could sneak out to buy alcohol.

Yummy Pubs Limited can serve drinks on and off site till midnight, Hammersmith and Fulham council said, but will have to kick anyone with a school uniform out of their pub in Hammersmith Road.

In a confrontational licensing meeting on Wednesday night, May 10, lawyers for Sacred Heart High School in Hammersmith – which is placed within the top three per cent nationally – said they’re concerned about female students being catcalled and whistled at by punters drinking outside.

They also worried drunk customers could stumble from the curbside and into oncoming traffic, which they claim is already rammed by people and students trying to get to Hammersmith underground station across the road.

James Rankin, who represented the all-girls Catholic school, said: “We do not say that these fears are fanciful.

“As you’ll recall the premises was once licensed as a restaurant known as Villaggio – and even though it was a restaurant, and even though everyone had to sit down, and even though everyone had to have a meal in order to consume intoxicating liquor, we still had problems.”

He said students regularly had their class time disrupted by workers emptying bucket-loads of empty glass bottles into bins and delivery drivers arriving during school hours.

Mr Rankin said the school was also concerned about the behaviour of drinkers outside and the congestion caused at home time.

He said: “On a hot summer’s day, the owners could have as many people as they want consuming alcohol outside and we don’t want that to happen because there is a massive conflict between 1,000 girls and men at the pub, drinking and consuming alcohol.”

Lawyers representing Yummy Pubs, which runs two boozers in Euston and Mile End, claimed their client was “an accomplished and experienced and fit-and-proper applicant providing a premium offer with exceptional service” and had a “strong history of compliance”.

Anthony Pender from TLT solicitors said the venue was not a “back-seat boozer” and his client had already agreed to a number of conditions to stop students sneaking in, including a challenge 25 policy and ensuring kids are accompanied by a parent at all times.

He said his client has also vowed to make sure deliveries and waste collection happens out of school hours.

Mr Pender accused the school of “catasprophising” and claimed the small number of seats outside would be unlikely to lead to people being pushed onto the road or students being harassed.

In its decision, the licensing committee said Yummy Pubs couldn’t open its door before 6am Monday to Friday during term time and must remove tables and chairs outside of licensing hours.

Sacred Heart School, which has 1,200 pupils aged between 11 and 18 years, said opening a pub so close by was “a significant cause for concern”, according to council documents.

They claimed students have been harassed outside the school in the past and worry the outdoor furniture would block one of the fire exits.

Pictured top: Sacred Heart High School in Hammersmith road (Picture: Google Street View)