Central London Bavarian Beer Hall Denied Expansion to Host 900 Drinkers
A Bavarian beer hall in London wanted to expand its capacity but faced rejection. Local councillors raised concerns about managing the increased number of patrons.
London, Bavarian Beer Hall, Albert’s Schloss, West End, Piccadilly Circus, Trocadero, Licensing
London: A Bavarian beer hall in the West End just got a big no from local councillors. Albert’s Schloss wanted to bump up its capacity from 620 to 920 people, but the council wasn’t having it.
They were worried about how the venue would handle so many extra guests. Plus, there are already high crime levels in the area, which made them even more cautious.
Opened in July 2024, Albert’s Schloss is themed like a Bavarian castle. It’s known for its food, drinks, and live shows, spending around £28,000 weekly on entertainment.
The venue’s operator, Zecol Thomas, had asked to change some conditions on their license. They wanted to allow drinks outside and increase the number of people allowed inside.
They also suggested that these changes wouldn’t kick in until another bar, the Sky Bar, gave up its license. This was to help manage the crowd better.
But the council and the Met Police raised concerns about managing the extra customers. They pointed out that the West End is already busy and has its fair share of issues.
At a recent meeting, the lawyer for Albert’s Schloss decided to drop the request for outdoor drinks. She mentioned that if the councillors were still worried, they could also give up the Sky Bar license.
The Sky Bar hasn’t opened yet, and the Piccadilly Institute, which closed in 2022, still has an active license. Both venues are part of the same property group.
Ms. Sharkey, the lawyer, argued that Albert’s Schloss has been super popular. She said people are queuing outside until 2 AM just to get in. If they could increase capacity, those lines would disappear.
However, the council wasn’t convinced. They questioned whether the venue could really handle more people. The licensing officer pointed out that the three venues are not the same and have different licenses.
He also said that just because the Sky Bar might close doesn’t mean those customers would go to Albert’s Schloss. It would actually mean adding 300 more people to an already crowded area.
Richard Brown from Citizens Advice Westminster added that the Sky Bar’s license depends on other licenses being given up. Concerns about capacity were raised again, especially late at night in the West End.
In the end, the councillors decided against the application. Albert’s Schloss was contacted for a comment but hasn’t responded yet.