Wetherspoon gets its licence for a 238-customer pub at Paddington Square

Westminster councillors have granted Wetherspoon a premises licence for a new pub at One Paddington Square, next to the Underground station, Pub & Social reports.

The plan - Three vacant retail units combined into one pub. - Room for 238 customers across the ground floor and a mezzanine. - No outdoor area in the current plans. - Between 100 and 120 full and part-time jobs expected.

How it got through: the licensing decision on 29 October came after Wetherspoon changed its proposed hours, which helped resolve objections.

Still to come: the building work and a confirmed opening date.

So what for your site: in central London, hours are often the bargaining chip that gets a licence over the line. If you are applying or varying, go in knowing which hours you could concede and still trade well, and talk to objectors before the hearing rather than at it.