Floating restaurant could open on River Thames in south west London

"Turks Launches, which runs daily boat trips along the Thames, wants permission to open a new cafe and restaurant in a boat known as The Aphrodite, which is moored at Town End Pier in Kingston town centre. The venue would be a cafe in the day and transform into a restaurant serving booze in the evening. It would seat 64 people, with space for 40 people inside and 24 people across two outdoor decked areas, if Kingston Council grants its licence."

"Richard Turk, managing director of Turk Launches, told the council's licensing hearing on August 26 the family-run business was the oldest in Kingston, as it had been in operation since 1710. The business provides river cruises, party boats and residential moorings along the stretch of the Thames from Richmond to Kingston and Hampton Court Palace. Residents had raised concerns the restaurant would be too noisy, but lawyer Nick Landells, representing Turks Launches, reassured them it would not cause a disturbance."

"Mr Turk added: I intend to operate The Aphrodite professionally, carefully and [with due diligence] without any negative impact on people living at my current Town End Pier site and those nearby residents. If allowed to open, the restaurant would only serve booze to customers seated with a substantial meal. It would open at 7.30am every day, serving booze from 12pm, before shutting at 10pm on Mondays to Saturdays, and 9pm on Sundays."

A floating cafe-restaurant called The Aphrodite seeks a licence to operate at Town End Pier in Kingston, south London, seating 64 people (40 inside, 24 outdoors). Turks Launches intends the venue to serve as a daytime cafe and an evening restaurant with alcohol served only to customers seated with a substantial meal. The family-run business offers river cruises, party boats and residential moorings along the Thames and traces operations back to 1710. Operating hours would begin at 7.30am daily, with alcohol from 12pm, closing at 10pm Monday–Saturday and 9pm on Sundays. Company representatives assert the boat will remain moored and will not function as a party boat. Kingston Council will publish its decision on the licence application in the coming days.

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