A Twickenham pub has sought changes to its premises licence after residents raised concerns about noise, anti-social behaviour and its operation on rugby match days.

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

The existing condition applies when an event at the stadium has a capacity of more than 30,000 people.

Under the proposed variation, the pub would have to use 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 need to be available for immediate inspection by police and licensing officers.

The proposed opening hours are 7am to midnight from Monday to Saturday and 9am to 11.30pm on Sundays.

The Council's Licensing Sub-Committee has reviewed the application, which has attracted four representations opposing the plans.

Residents raise concerns over noise and match days

Objections to the application include 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 argue 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 says changes are needed to remain viable

Speaking on behalf of the applicant, Stephen Thomas told the sub-committee yesterday (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 has 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.

The Licensing Sub-Committee is yet to make a decision on the application. To read more click here.

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