Licence Extension Granted for Grasshoppers
Rugby club to open later after concessions to neighbours
Grasshoppers Rugby Club. Picture: Facebook
November 10, 2026
Grasshoppers Rugby Football Sports and Social Club has been granted permission to extend its licensed hours on Friday and Saturday nights after reaching common ground with local residents concerned about noise and late-night disturbance
A licensing panel at Hounslow Council approved the variation application for the club's premises in Syon Lane, Isleworth, following a hearing on 3 November. The decision allows alcohol sales, live music and recorded music until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, rather than the 2am extension originally sought by the applicant.
The application generated a significant number of representations from nearby residents and ward councillor Tony Louki, many of whom raised concerns about noise, outdoor music, traffic, parking pressures and the impact of late-night events on families living close to the site.
However, by the time the matter reached the licensing hearing, several objectors had indicated they were prepared to support the application provided additional safeguards were introduced. Residents repeatedly called for a reduced closing time, restrictions on outdoor music, limits on attendance and a formal dispersal plan to minimise disturbance when events finished.
The club's chairman told the panel that Grasshoppers remains primarily a community rugby club and sports facility, and that the licence variation was intended to provide greater flexibility for occasional private functions rather than transform the venue into a regular entertainment destination. He said the club hosts fewer than ten such events a year and had no intention of increasing the number of events or introducing regular live music performances.
The hearing heard that the clubhouse has a maximum capacity of 150 people and that evens making use of the extended hours are typically birthday parties, family celebrations and similar indoor functions rather than music-focused events.
A key consideration for the panel was the absence of objections from responsible authorities, including the Metropolitan Police and Environmental Health. Members also noted that the club had engaged extensively with neighbours through meetings, advance event notifications and a residents' WhatsApp group.
While many objections referred to larger events held at the venue, including the Polish Radio Festival and Turf Games, the panel accepted evidence that those events operate under separate licensing arrangements and were not directly affected by the application under consideration.
In reaching its decision, the panel concluded that the amended application would not undermine the licensing objectives, provided additional controls were imposed.
The committee approved the variation subject to three new conditions:
- A written dispersal policy must be maintained and made available to council officers or police on request.
- Any event making use of the extended licensed hours is limited to a maximum attendance of 150 people.
- No music may be played in external areas after 11pm. turn2search1
Under the revised licence, alcohol sales, live music and recorded music can now continue until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, while opening hours for the premises have also been extended until 1am on those days. Existing Sunday to Thursday hours remain unchanged.
The panel stopped short of imposing all of the conditions requested by residents. It declined to require external doors to remain closed after 9pm and said it could not impose a ban on fireworks because fireworks are not a licensable activity under the Licensing Act 2003.
Nevertheless, councillors said they expected the club to continue honouring commitments made during the hearing regarding resident engagement, noise monitoring, communication and event management. They also warned that any breach of licence conditions or failure to uphold the licensing objectives could result in a future review of the premises licence.
Residents' concerns about late-night noise formed a central theme of the consultation process. In written objections, several neighbours argued that outdoor music continuing into the early hours would be unacceptable given the club's location in a predominantly residential area.
Others said they supported the rugby club's role within the community but wanted assurances that fundraising and social events could continue without adversely affecting nearby homes. A number of representations specifically called for a 1am closing time, a 150-person capacity limit and stronger controls on noise and dispersal, all of which featured prominently in the final discussion before the licence was granted.
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