The Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee of Brent Council is scheduled to convene on Monday 15 June 2026. The primary item on the agenda is an application for a new premises licence for Newsfare, located at 33 Craven Park Road, NW10 8SE.

Application for a New Premises Licence at Newsfare

The sub-committee will consider an application for a new premises licence for Newsfare, located at 33 Craven Park Road, NW10 8SE. The applicant, Mr Abdeen Nagoor, is seeking permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between 7am and 10pm, Monday to Sunday.

The report pack indicates that this application falls within the Harlesden Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ)^[1]. The council's licensing policy designates CIZs as areas where there is a recognised concentration of alcohol-related harm, including crime, disorder, public nuisance, and street drinking. The report pack details that representations have been received from a ward councillor, Councillor Matt Kelcher, and a local resident, both objecting to the application. Councillor Kelcher's representation highlights concerns about the potential for the new licence to exacerbate existing issues within the CIZ, citing previous police data that recorded a high volume of crimes and calls for service in the area. He also expresses concern that further alcohol availability could lead to price competition, making alcohol cheaper and more accessible, which would be counterproductive to the council's objectives for reducing harm.

The report pack also includes representations from the Licensing Authority itself, which initially requested a number of conditions be included in the operating schedule or added as licence conditions. These include requirements for a digital CCTV system, a Challenge 25 policy, staff training on licensing legislation, an incident log, and restrictions on the sale of certain types of alcohol, such as no single cans or bottles of beer or cider, no miniatures of spirits or wine, and no high-strength beers, lagers, or ciders above 6.0% ABV.

The Metropolitan Police Service, as a responsible authority, has reviewed the application and the proposed conditions and has stated that they are satisfied that the measures outlined are appropriate and proportionate to promote the licensing objectives. Consequently, the Police Responsible Authority does not wish to make any representations.

The applicant's agent, The Licensing Guys, has provided detailed arguments regarding the validity of the Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA) and the data used to establish the CIZ. They have also stated that their client has accepted the conditions proposed by the Licensing Authority and has incorporated them into the operating schedule. The applicant's agent has also indicated that their client has no interest in encouraging street drinking and aims to operate as a responsible member of the community.

The sub-committee will need to consider all these representations and the applicant's proposed operating schedule when determining the application. The report pack outlines the potential steps the members can take, which include granting the licence, excluding certain licensable activities, refusing to specify a premises supervisor, or rejecting the application entirely.