The Licensing Sub Committee of Cardiff Council was scheduled to consider two applications for premises licences. These included an application for Smoke UK in Llanrumney and Pepe's Piri Piri in Cathays.

Application for Premises Licence: Smoke UK, Llanrumney

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application for a premises licence for Smoke UK, located at 32 Countisbury Avenue, Llanrumney, Cardiff, CF3 5SJ. The applicant, Shahrami Ahmedi, sought to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between Monday and Sunday, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. The premises is described as a mini-market offering confectionary, soft drinks, and general convenience items.

The report pack indicated that South Wales Police had initially made a representation against the application, citing concerns regarding the prevention of crime and disorder, public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. However, the applicant agreed to proposed conditions, leading to the withdrawal of the police representation. A local ward Councillor, Councillor Lexi Pocknell, also submitted a representation, objecting to the application on the grounds of exacerbating existing issues with anti-social behaviour, noise, disturbance, loitering, and the potential for underage access to alcohol. Councillor Pocknell argued that the area already had a high concentration of licensed premises, and an additional outlet would increase the risk of cumulative impact without an identifiable community need.

The applicant proposed a series of conditions to promote the licensing objectives, including the implementation of a Challenge 25 policy, the use of CCTV, maintaining an incident book, and ensuring alcohol sales are in sealed containers. The report pack also detailed conditions related to the prevention of public nuisance, such as managing deliveries and waste collection to minimise disturbance, and measures to protect children from harm, including staff training on age-restricted sales and an alcohol refusal policy.

Application for Premises Licence: Pepe's Piri Piri, Cathays

The committee was also scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence for Pepe's Piri Piri, located at 49 Salisbury Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4AB. The applicant, Ibbi Foods Ltd, applied for a licence for the provision of late-night refreshment, with the premises operating as a restaurant and takeaway. The proposed hours for this activity were Monday to Sunday, from 11:00 PM to 3:00 AM. The premises does not sell alcohol, tobacco, or other age-restricted goods.

Representations were received from South Wales Police and Pollution Control. South Wales Police raised objections concerning the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm, noting that the Cathays area experiences alcohol-related anti-social behaviour and is popular with students. The police proposed conditions including the installation of CCTV, the use of an incident logbook, a restriction on customers under 16 after 11:00 PM unless accompanied by an adult, and a glass-free policy for public areas.

The Pollution Control department objected on the grounds of preventing public nuisance. They highlighted that the premises is located in a densely populated mixed-use and residential area, with accommodation directly above and adjoining. The department expressed concern that extending trading hours until 3:00 AM daily would be incompatible with the local environment and could exacerbate existing noise and disturbance issues from customers, deliveries, and operations, particularly during hours when residents would expect a quiet environment. The department also noted that the applicant had not provided sufficient detail on how late-night noise, customer dispersal, and waste management would be addressed.

The applicant's operating schedule outlined steps to promote the licensing objectives, including CCTV coverage, staff monitoring of customer behaviour, compliance with health and safety legislation, and measures to minimise noise and litter. For the protection of children from harm, the applicant stated that the premises is a safe, family-friendly environment as no age-restricted goods are sold.