Residents have won a partial victory in the battle over a new bar-restaurant at a triple-stabbing nightclub site—with the Council throwing out plans for drinking and entertainment to the early hours.

A new premises licence has been granted for 1A Kensington High Street, formerly home to Jako nightclub. But alcohol sales, music and dancing must stop at midnight, with customers finishing their drinks and leaving by 12.30am.

The restrictions follow protests from neighbours fearing a return to sleepless nights and unruly behaviour by revellers on the streets.

Objectors included 28 residents and businesses, Kensington Court Residents’ Association, Queen’s Gate Conservative councillors Lucy Shaw and Max Dodd-Noble, and Andrew Pike, managing director of The Milestone Hotel & Residences.

Applicants Samuel Adewale and Opeyemi Oyewobi originally sought permission for alcohol, dancing, music and late-night food until 4am every day, with customers leaving by 4.30am.

Before the hearing, they cut their proposed hours to 1.30am Monday to Thursday and 2am Friday to Sunday. Councillors rejected even those reduced hours.

And the bar-restaurant also can’t operate under the new licence until an independent acoustic assessment has been submitted and any required work completed to the Council’s written satisfaction.

The initial hearing on 29 October lasted nearly four hours. Chaired by Cllr Laura Burns (Conservative, Chelsea Riverside), sitting with Cllr Marie-Therese Rossi (Conservative, Redcliffe), it heard fears about amplified music, smokers outside, taxis and departing customers.

Residents also questioned crowd control, dispersal arrangements and how staff would handle customers under the influence of drink or drugs.

Kensington Court apartment owner Eileen Rook recalled life alongside the previous nightclub. “The noise from the music goes through the wall,” said Rook.

“We had to call noise nuisance time and time again. I’m also concerned about noise from people leaving late at night. Once the licence is given in my experience nothing can be done.”

Giving evidence, Milestone managing director Andrew Pike described the toll the previous venue had taken on the neighbouring hotel.

“Our previous experience of a late-night venue at this address demonstrated a consistent pattern of disturbance caused by patrons leaving the venue in the early hours of the morning. Guests and overnight staff were regularly affected by excessive noise, shouting, antisocial behaviour, taxi activity and disturbances during hours when guests reasonably expect a quiet and restful environment.”

But barrister Duncan Craig urged councillors to put their faith in the new operators. “I’ve known both for a number of years. These are two lads in their thirties with families… this is their big chance… it would be mental of them, given all they are placing on these premises, to jeopardise their future. I think they’re good lads.”

The address carries an unhappy history. Three men were stabbed during a fight involving club patrons on 9 January 2022. Police demanded an emergency licence review. RBKC suspended Jako’s licence on 14 January and revoked it on 8 February 2022. The new applicant, YRS LDN Ltd, is legally separate. Council papers say there is no apparent connection with Jako’s previous operators.

For neighbours, the new licence is a disappointment. But the message to the operators is clear: last orders by midnight—and everyone out by half past.