London Bavarian Beer House Aims to Expand for Over 900 Drinkers
Albert’s Schloss seeks to boost capacity and allow outdoor drinks in London
London, UK, Albert’s Schloss, Bavarian Beer House, Piccadilly Circus
London: A Bavarian beer house near Piccadilly Circus wants to up its capacity by nearly 50%. Albert’s Schloss, named after Prince Albert, is also asking for permission to allow drinks outside in a designated area.
This London spot opened on Shaftesbury Avenue in July 2024, following two successful venues in Manchester and Liverpool. It’s themed like a Bavarian Alpine castle, and the menu is packed with goodies like fondue, pretzels, and burgers. Plus, they have live music and cabaret shows every day!
In their request to the council, the operators want to change two conditions on their license. They’re looking to allow open drink containers outside and to bump the maximum capacity from 620 to 920 people.
They also want to add a condition that these changes won’t kick in until another venue, the Sky Bar and Lounge, gives up its license. This is to help lessen the impact of their expansion since both places are in the Trocadero.
However, the council’s licensing team and the Met Police have raised concerns. They worry about how the venue will handle the larger crowd and how people will leave the place. The area is already known for its high crime rate, so they want to make sure this won’t make things worse.
Some letters of support have come in, praising Albert’s Schloss for its welcoming vibe and entertainment options, especially for the LGBTQ+ community. But many of these letters sound pretty similar, repeating the same points.
Roisin Finnerty, the venue’s supervisor, describes it as a modern spot with a fun atmosphere. She mentions they spend a lot on entertainment each week and have training programs in place. Even when full, she believes there’s still room to breathe inside.
When inspectors visited recently, they noticed long queues, but Ms. Finnerty explained that it was just because they were at max capacity, even if it didn’t look full. She thinks that if they can increase the capacity to 920, it would help reduce those queues outside.
The Westminster City Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee is set to review this application soon. Albert’s Schloss has been asked for comments on the matter.
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