Richmond Council's Licensing Sub-Committee has considered an Italian restaurant and bar's application to extend its opening hours and serve food and alcohol beyond midnight on New Year's Eve.

Treviso Vinoteca on Kew Road, submitted an application to operate until 5am on 1 January, alongside a proposal to extend its regular daily opening hours.

Under the proposed changes, Treviso Vinoteca would be open:

• Monday to Saturday: 11am to 12:30am
• Sunday: 12pm to 12am

Proposed serving hours include:

• Food from Monday to Saturday, 11am to 12:30am and on Sunday, 11am to 12am

Alcohol from Monday to Saturday, 11am to 12am and on Sunday, 12pm to 11:30pm

The venue currently operates from Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 11pm and on Sunday, 12pm to 9:30pm, but closes daily from 3pm to 6pm between Monday to Saturday.

Applicant Mr Nicola Muja, speaking to the committee, said: "We've been here for 12 years, never had any problems, and our restaurant sells a very minimal amount of alcohol... because we mainly focus on food and serve wine with dinner."

He added: "Our clients are mainly families and we are a quiet restaurant."

Councillor Tony Paterson queried whether extended hours might lead to noise from customers gathering outside.

Mr Muja responded that this had never occurred and explained "Our family-run restaurant doesn't allow that kind of behaviour."

Only one objection was submitted, by The Richmond Society, which raised concerns over the use of the outside space late at night and the potential precedent set by allowing refreshment service until 5am on New Year's Day.

In its written statement, the society said: "I am still concerned about the very late hours requested for the New Year opening hours and feel that if these are allowed then there will be a precedent set.

"Other licence holders may then apply for similar hours. This is a residential area that has a number of closely located licensed premises."

Although the application includes extended hours for New Year's Eve, Mr Muja clarified in closing that the venue typically closes over the festive period.

"To clarify we do not open on New Year's Eve...we are away on holiday for Christmas...in my 12 years on Kew Road we have never opened on New Year's Eve, " he said.

A final decision on the application will be made by the Council in due course.

To watch the full Licensing Sub-Committee meeting click here.

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