A Twickenham pub's licensing application which raised concerns about noise, anti-social behaviour and its operation on rugby match days from neighbours has been refused.

The Crane & Tap, at 1 Brewery Lane, Twickenham, applied to Richmond Council to remove a condition requiring alcohol to be served only alongside a table meal during major events at Twickenham Stadium.

Under the rejected variation, the pub would have used a clicker system to record the number of customers on the premises during events, logging the figures at least every 30 minutes.

The records would have to be available for immediate inspection by police and licensing officers.

In addition, the proposed opening hours were 7am to midnight from Monday to Saturday and 9am to 11.30pm on Sundays.

Residents raised concerns over noise and match days

Objections to the application included concerns about noise and anti-social behaviour affecting people living in the neighbouring residential block, access to a communal gate, littering and alleged previous non-compliance with licence conditions on rugby match days.

Residents also argued that removing the table-meal requirement could change the pub's character from a restaurant into a venue where customers primarily stand and drink.

Teresa Gebski, who said she has lived above the pub for 10 years, raised concerns about an event held on 12 September 2026.

She alleged the music was so loud that it continued beyond 11:30pm and made her "flat vibrate".

"The current licence condition requiring alcohol to be served as ancillary to a table meal on Event Days provides a critical safeguarding measure for the residential block," she said.

"The proposal to remove this restriction and replace it merely with a capacity count will effectively alter the primary character of the venue from a restaurant to a high-capacity, vertical drinking establishment."

Ms Gebski added that the change could increase noise levels and anti-social behaviour beneath neighbouring homes.

Another resident argued that the proposed replacement condition would allow the pub to operate as a bar during major events rather than as a restaurant, potentially changing its impact on neighbours.

Residents also raised concerns about litter and cans found in a communal area next to the pub.

Pub said changes are needed to remain 'viable'

Speaking on behalf of the applicant, Stephen Thomas told the sub-committee on Monday, 12 October 2026 that his client took over The Crane & Tap last year after its previous owners went bankrupt.

He said the hospitality industry was facing "challenging times" and that the proposed changes were intended to help make the business financially viable.

"We don't want to change the number of customers that could be there [The Crane & Tap] on an event night, but because of the cost of living we are finding that people do want to come out for the evening but not for a full table meal," he said.

Mr Thomas said the business had not realised when it took over that its licence prevented it from selling alcohol without a table meal during relevant events, but that it had "remedied this" once it became aware of the restriction.

In response to complaints about litter, he said the cans found in the communal area did not belong to the pub, which did not sell cans, and that the area was "not under our control".

Addressing the reported incident on 12 September, when residents complained that a private event allegedly continued until 2.15am, Mr Thomas said the pub would not host similar functions in future.

"We will not hold any similar functions at The Crane Tap," he said.

"Any inquiries where someone is requesting live music or recorded music or wishes to go beyond 11:30pm will be referred to one of our sister sites."

He explained that the pub had hosted a private family event for around 90 people that day and said "they made a mistake" by holding that type of function.

The pub proposed that live or recorded music will not continue beyond 11:30pm.

The Crane & Tap has also said it would not have more than 160 people on its premises at any one time during event days.

It added that vertical drinking would not take place outside the pub.

Applicants did not 'assure' sub-committee it could promote licensing objectives.

After review, the sub-committee decided not to grant the application.

In its decision it stated: "The Sub-Committee did not, at the current time, have confidence in the applicant's management ability to promote the licensing objectives.

"The Sub-Committee were concerned with the applicant's handling of the private event that took place at the premises on 12 September 2026 and the failure to deal adequately with the concerns that were raised by residents at the time.

"This has been acknowledged by the applicants who proposed some conditions which they felt would mitigate the risk of a similar occurrence causing nuisance to residential properties in the same block.

"The Sub-Committee were also of the view that the applicants have not to date successfully grasped the issues of managing a licensed premises in the vicinity of Twickenham Stadium during match days.

"The applicants said that they took over the premises just over one year ago when it was in receivership.

"At this time the applicants stated were not fully aware of the conditions contained within the existing premises licence and this again did not assure the Sub-Committee that the operator could successfully manage the premises if the application was granted.

"Other Parties said both in their written evidence and at the hearing that there had been persons congregating at the fountain area outside The Crane and Tap's licensed area where alcohol from the premises is permitted be consumed.

"People were observed consuming alcohol from glassware rather than from cans or bottles which could be obtained from nearby shops which they indicated that this had been purchased from The Crane and Tap and was being consumed outside The Crane & Tap's designated licenced area.

"This has caused issues of noise disturbance to residents who are also consequently having difficulty entering or leaving their residential flat through the access gate due people congregating in the area outside blocking the building's access points."

To read more on this licensing application click here.

READ MORE: 10 things every Twickenham home seller should do before listing their property.

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