A building next to Paddington Station could soon be home to a new branch of a “world renowned” fine dining restaurant and lounge bar – though the identity of the brand has been kept under wraps for now.
Iconic Locations Paddington Co. Ltd has applied to open a rooftop bar and restaurant on the 17th and 18th floors of 1 Paddington Square, according to a report before Westminster City Council.
The venue is proposed to run from 8am until 2.30am, seven days a week.
Iconic Locations Paddington said no more than 25per cent of the available floor space in the internal bar, nor more than 50pc of the external terrace areas, will be used for stand-up drinking.
Westminster City’s Environmental Health team says the proposal may undermine public safety and lead to public nuisance. They are also considering conditions being proposed by Iconic Locations Paddington.
The Hyde Park Estate Association (HPEA) – an amenity society founded in 1952 – said a fine dining restaurant in the area was welcomed but the proposal “needs to have appropriate conditions in place to protect local residents’ peace, quiet and safety”.
They said providing 50pc of stand-up drinking space outside was “too high” and suggested it be cut by half. They also called for alcohol not to be served after midnight unless it is accompanied with food and customers are seated at a table.
They called for more trained security guards at the ground floor and a clear cut-off time for entries.
The Paddington Waterways Maida Vale Society – another amenity society – said the venue should stay open until midnight only. They also expressed concerns about the “concept” of the restaurant.
They wrote: “Like many others, we welcomed the arrival of a fine dining destination but wonder from the current application whether the concept is now directed towards much more bar use and vertical drinking than we would have anticipated twinned with a fine dining restaurant.”
The South East Bayswater Residents Association said there should be no extension of hours beyond midnight. Iconic Locations Paddington has proposed installing CCTV and hiring one door supervisor from Thursdays to Saturdays after 9pm.
They said a member of staff will greet customers at reception on the 17th floor and direct them to the relevant areas of the premises. They also propose that alcohol is served by waiting staff to customers seated at the bar.
Westminster City Council will review the application during a licensing meeting on Thursday (August 28).
In 2021, developer Great Western Developments Limited was granted a premises licence with a midnight cut-off. It is not clear if the premises has since been occupied.
According to its website, Paddington Square is 80,000 square feet of retail, leisure and wellbeing space with 322,000+ sq ft of office space. It is located next to Paddington Station and sits on both Winsland Street and Tanner Lane.
Adrian Zorzut is a Senior Local Democracy Reporter covering Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea, and the City of London. A contributor to Harrow Online, his reporting focuses on local government, housing, planning, transport and public policy, helping residents understand the decisions and issues affecting their communities.
