The Licensing Sub-Committee (2) met on Wednesday 7th February 2024 to determine a new premises licence application for Naroon Counter and a variation application for PJs Pizza. The application for Naroon Counter was granted with amended hours and conditions, while the application for PJs Pizza was withdrawn by the applicant.

Naroon Counter, 63 Great Titchfield Street

The Sub-Committee granted a new premises licence for Naroon Counter, located at 63 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 7PR, operating as a restaurant. The decision followed representations from the Environmental Health Service and 14 interested parties, who raised concerns about public nuisance and crime and disorder.

The applicant, Mojereh 63 Gts Ltd, which operates several other local establishments including Naroon Fitzrovia at 65 Great Titchfield Street, sought extended hours for recorded music, late-night refreshment, and the sale of alcohol. The initial application proposed opening hours from 7:00 AM to 12:30 AM, with licensable activities extending later.

During the hearing, the applicant agreed to amend the proposed hours to align with Westminster's Core Hours Policy, HRS1¹. This policy generally permits restaurants to operate until 11:30 PM on weekdays and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The Sub-Committee ultimately granted the licence with licensable activities and opening hours aligned with these core hours.

Key conditions imposed on the licence include:

• The sale of alcohol only to seated customers consuming a substantial table meal, served by waiter or waitress.
• Outdoor seating to be made unusable by 11:00 PM.
• No takeaway sales of hot food or drink after 11:00 PM.
• No deliveries between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM, with no deliveries on Sundays or Bank Holidays.
• All windows and external doors to be kept closed after 9:00 PM, except for immediate access and egress.
• Prominent notices at exits requesting patrons to leave quietly and respect local residents.
• A comprehensive CCTV system to be installed and maintained.
• Staff training on age verification, intoxication, and responsible service.

The Sub-Committee noted that while concerns were raised about kitchen extraction, this was a planning matter to be determined separately. The imposed conditions were considered appropriate and proportionate to promote the licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of public nuisance and crime and disorder.

PJs Pizza, 358 Harrow Road

An application to vary the premises licence for PJs Pizza, located at 358 Harrow Road, London, W9 2HT, was withdrawn by the applicant before the hearing. The proposed variation sought to extend late-night refreshment hours to 5:00 AM daily and extend opening hours to midnight. Representations had been received from the Metropolitan Police Service and Environmental Health, citing concerns about public nuisance and crime and disorder, as well as from several local residents who objected to the extended hours due to noise and potential anti-social behaviour.