Check out the lastest news happening in the bars! 

Nov 2006               Both Sparrows Farm and Bar Latitude have applied for a variation in opening hours. If granted by Greenwich Council this will mean that you will be able to socialize safely for longer in out bars. Interested parties have 28 days to make representations

Nov 20th 2006        Bar Latitude has been informed that the local residents have asked Greenwich Council to perform a review of the License.  This gives the power for the Council to remove the alcohol license thus making Bar latitude a non alcohic bar.  The residents have asked for a review on all 4 grounds of licensing - Protection of children from harm, The prevention of public nuisance, The prevention of crime and disorder  and public safety.  Interested parties have until Monday 18th December to make representations.  This is unprecidented in English Law ie the ask for a variation and then get a review so we have therefore decided at this time to differ the variation until the review has been heard.  Needless to say we will be doing all we can to fight this as the Students of The University of Greenwich need somewhere safe to socialise and enjoy themselves, and one of the only places for them to do that is in the SU

Nov 30th 2006         The Government has anounced that the smoking ban in public places comes into effect on 1st July 2007. This means that smoking will be prohibited in all the bars. Whilst a number of the large chains have announced that they may have to close some pubs and bars due to the restrictions we are lucky that both Bar Latitude and Sparrows Farm have gardens for smokers to use. Both gardens now have covered areas to protect smokers from the elements, thus meaning that smokers will not have to stand outside the front of pubs.

Dec 1st 2006           The lounge bar, in the Cooper Building, has become the new room for training and development.  It will be used as a space for B.I.T.E training, meetings for sports and societies etc.  You will still be able to use the room when the bar has booked it, it will continue to be a non smoking room but added to this alcohol must not be taken into the room.  Eventually the pool table, big screen TV and furniture will be relocated elsewhere in the building.

Dec 14th 2006        There is a slight technical hitch with the plasma screen installation at Bar Latitude, more details to follow when known

Dec 14th 2006        Sparrows Farm has been granted a variation - subject to appeals ect.  Full details will be posted when the paperwork comes through

Dec 16th 2006          Bar Latitude was assessed today for the 'Best Bar None' Awards.  The idea of the scheme is as follows. Corporate Social Responsibility is, without doubt, one of the biggest areas of focus for many councils, police forces and the Government. Crackdowns and further legislation means that bars need to consider the wider effects of selling alcohol. However, Students' Unions have always considered the welfare of their students and the Best Bar None Awards aims to reward, promote and recognise the efforts that Students' Unions place on Corporate Social Responsibility. NUS were the first organisation to adopt the city centre safe scheme on a national basis from Greater Manchester Police and this year the scheme becomes
bigger and stronger. This third year the benchmark has been raised again and the opportunity awaits all Unions to demonstrate the high level to which they trade both within the Union movement and against the high-street operators. To take the Best Bar None challenge your journey starts by registering to receive the application form. The application covers many aspects Corporate Social Responsibility within and outside of your Union. The topics include:
Door policies / Drink & drugs
Glass / CCTV
Crime prevention / Lighting
Fire / Security  First Aid / The environment
General safety
We will let you know the results as soon as we know!

Dec 18th 2006      Sparrows Farm has bee granted a variation in its opening hours. Whist the Union was trying to get later opening hours al week, the Greenwich Council decided to grant an extention on Fridays and Saturdays only till 12.30am. This was due to complaints from the people living in Sparrows Lane, thinking that any later would cause a disturbance.

Dec 23rd 2006       Bar Latitude has been notified that the review of it's license will be heard at Woolwich Town Hall on Wednesday 17th January 2006.  Hopefully after this things will be able to get back to normal again and we can carry on providing you with a safe environment to drink and socialise in.

Jan 8th 2007        The bars are now back into full operation after the Christmas break, so the traditional January sale kicks in. Check out individual bars for full details.

Jan 10th 2007      Bar Latitude received notification today, from NUS Services, that it has received an accreditation, in this year's Best Bar None awards.  This means that Bar Latitude has reached the standards set, as stated in the post above. This will have a significant effect on the Review planned for next Wednesday as it is a National award, recognised by police and other relevent authorities.

Jan 17th 2007      Well a few days after Bar Latitude's 6th Birthday, we faced The Licencing Review Committee. It is not a case of winning or losing as there are gains for both parties. Bar Latitude has kept its alcohol license. There are conditions attached to the license and most of these are already in place. More help for the residents in the form of a telephone and email contacts and meetings will be set up.   It was noticed at the meeting that the residents read this website, so a special page will be set up especially for them. Now that the council are satisfied with the operation at Bar Latitude, we will have the variation meeting soon, to hopefully extend the opening hours. So finally a big thank you to all our Students for behaving in a suitable manner when leaving and helping us keep the license. But please remember that you still need to keep up your impecable behaviour!!

Jan 18th 2007    Following yesterdays Council Meeting we have started to put some of the conditions imposed on the new license into place, including a page on this website dedicated to neighbours of our bars. This page gives information on how to contact us if they experience any problems or indeed to give us positive comments.

Jan 19th 2007   Some female customers have approached us regarding filming that apparently took place of them whilst leaving Bar Latitude On Thursday 18th January and how it made them feel 'uncomfortable'.  This filming by some residents is possibly being used to gain evidence that you are leaving quietly, and is sometimes combined with photos being taken, but since yesterdays decision filming of this nature should not be happening.  Having taken advice, we can advise you that it is against your human rights to have images taken of you without your permission, and if you wish to proceed you should
note the address and take legal advice to ask the person to stop. CCTV already operates in the area and signs are up in the street telling people this, but any videoing from other sources is against Human Rights if they have not asked permision.  Please book an appointment with our advice service if you wish to know how to proceed.
Jan 19th 2007     News has reached us today that our neighbours in King William Walk have decided to appeal against the decision made by Greenwich Council on Wednesday with regards to Bar Latitude
retaining it's premises license.  This means that yet again the Variation order (application to extend our opening hours) will be delayed yet again.  We can only appologise to you again as we stive to give you a safe place to socialise, but these circumstances are completely out of our control.  Of course, our neighbours are well with in their rights to appeal with in 21 days of the original decision, and this will now go to Greenwich Magistrates Court.

Feb 7th 2007    News reached us today that the meeting to hear our Variation request for Bar Latitude is to be heard on Wednesday 14th Febraury at 10am.  We are as yet unsure if the apeal against the Review is to go ahead. We have learnt that if it does go to the Magistrates Court, they have 3 options.   1) Let the Councils ruling stand, 2) Impose more conditions on our license or 3) send the case back to the council.  If the variation is successful it would mean that the Bar would be open till midnight Sun to Wednesday and till 1am Thursday to Saturday.

Feb 7th 2007    News reached us today that the meeting to hear our Variation request for Bar Latitude is to be heard on Wednesday 14th Febraury at 10am.  We are as yet unsure if the apeal against the Review is to go ahead. We have learnt that if it does go to the Magistrates Court, they have 3 options.   1) Let the Councils ruling stand, 2) Impose more conditions on our license or 3) send the case back to the council.  If the variation is successful it would mean that the Bar would be open till midnight Sun to Wednesday and till 1am Thursday to Saturday. If and when this is in place usual SU rules will come into place. No signing in of Guests after 10pm and no admitance to the bar after 11pm. All music / Karaoke would finish at 12.30am

Feb 13th 2007   Today we recieved confirmation of the appeal by the residents of King William Walk against the decision made by Greenwich Council over our review of Bar Latitude. Whilst officially this now means that any conditions set at that review meeting are null and void (until the appeal is heard), as responsible neighbours we will continue adhearing to those conditions set out and the hearing as much as is reasonably possible.  This includes entry and exit procedures and the submission of a planning application for cameras to be sited on the outside of the Cooper Building.

Feb 14th 2007  Today Bar latitude should have found out if it's application to vary the opening hours was succesful. Unfortunately the Students' Union asked for the meeting to be deffered as a member of the panel had sat on the Variation Meeting for Sparrows Farm and we felt this was a conflict of intrest. To this end the meeting will now take place on Wednesday 28th February at 10am. we have been informed that the residents will also be appealing against this, should the decision not go their way.

Feb 23rd 2007   Today the Labour Party Society met for the first time in the Training Room of the Cooper Building. The room can be booked by any sports club or society for meetings, just contact Sally on

 0208 331 9599. Special guest at the meeting was Labour Councillor Maureen O'Mara seen here having a drink and a chat with members of the society in Bar Latitude after the meeting.

Feb 26th 2007    Well the saga continues!  Will we ever open later?  The meeting planned for this Wednesday has been postponed yet again. It is now over 3 months since this should have been heard. We will keep you up to date when we know!

Feb 28th 2007  End of term plans are in full swing with a school disko party being held at Sparrows Farm on the 23rd March, and a new night at Bar Latitude,  Dirty Shuffle is a new night so look out for posters that will be put up soon.  there will be bands and DJ's and we have applied for a Temporary Event Notice meaning we will be able to party till 1am!  T.E.N notices can only be objected by the police so we are confident of getting it, although remember - please remember that we have a few neighbours - so be quiet when you leave.

March 2nd 2007    A new date for the variation has come through for Bar Latitude. The date is now set for Tuesday 12th March 2007 at 18:30 at Woolwich Town Hall

March 14th 2007  Last night we met with the Council and Residents at the Variation meeting and the Council decided to give Bar Latitude extended hours. These will come into effect soon. They are Sunday to Wednesday till 23:00  Thursday till 00:00 and Friday and Saturday till 01:00.  This is a massive step forward in the Union's Entertainment plans as both Bar Latitude and Sparrows Farm now have
extended    opening hours giving you a safe place to drink for longer.  Details of exact timings will be announced here soon.

March 22nd 2007   With just a couple of days to go now till the end of term we have 3 events for you!  Thursday night is Karaoke at Bar Latitude, with the bar now open till midnight!  Friday night you have a choice!  Saprrows is holding a skool disco with the bar open until 12.30am, whilst Bar Latitude is hosting 'Dirty Shuffle' a night of dj's and bands (see posters around campus for more details) and will be open till 1am for the first time in its history!  But please remember to leave quietly from both venues so as not to disturb the residents that live near each venue.