The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a premises licence for Chicken Valley, located at 39 Goldhawk Road, London, W12 8QQ, with modified hours and conditions. The committee decided to grant the application in part, allowing for late-night refreshment and public opening hours that were reduced from the applicant's initial request.

Chicken Valley Premises Licence Application

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application for a premises licence for Chicken Valley, a fast-food takeaway at 39 Goldhawk Road, London, W12 8QQ. The applicant, Mr Matin Noori, sought permission for late-night refreshment (both indoors and outdoors) from Sunday to Thursday between 23:00 and 01:45, and on Fridays and Saturdays between 23:00 and 01:45. The proposed opening hours to the public were from 11:00 to 00:00 on Sundays to Thursdays, and 11:00 to 01:30 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The application received objections from the Metropolitan Police, the Council's Noise and Nuisance Team, a Community Safety Officer, the Board of Directors of Apex Court, and local residents. The primary concerns raised related to the prevention of crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance, and the cumulative impact of late-night licensed premises in the area.

The Metropolitan Police initially objected on the grounds of preventing crime and disorder, citing the premises' proximity to Shepherd's Bush Green, an area known for crime and anti-social behaviour. They also raised concerns about potential congregating outside the premises and intoxicated individuals entering during later hours. The police also noted that online listings suggested the premises might have been operating beyond its authorised hours, raising concerns about compliance with licensing regulations. However, the applicant clarified that any discrepancies in online listings were unintentional and that staff had been briefed to ensure accurate information.

The Noise and Nuisance Team objected on the grounds of preventing public nuisance, expressing concern that the proposed late hours would lead to increased pedestrian and vehicle movements, noise, and disturbance for nearby residents, particularly those on Woodger Road. They noted that most other food premises in the immediate vicinity closed earlier.

A Community Safety Officer also raised concerns about the concentration of licensed premises in the area and ongoing issues with large groups gathering on the public highway, causing nuisance. They expressed limited confidence that the applicant could effectively manage individuals frequenting the premises, especially given the recent revocation of a nearby licence.

Representations from the Board of Directors of Apex Court and local residents highlighted existing problems with noise, shouting, aggressive behaviour, littering, and drug-related activity stemming from late-night venues. They argued that granting extended hours would exacerbate the cumulative impact on residents, particularly on Woodger Road, a narrow residential street.

In response to the concerns, Mr. Noori, the applicant, stated that Chicken Valley does not sell alcohol and that he was willing to accept a reduced closing time and other conditions to promote the licensing objectives. He proposed conditions including: takeaway only for the final 30 minutes of trading, CCTV coverage, an incident log, signs for customers to be quiet, instructions for delivery drivers to park on the main road, and a licence review after a trial period.

The committee decided to grant the licence in part. The approved hours for late-night refreshment are:

• Sunday to Thursday: 23:00 to 23:30
• Friday and Saturday: 23:00 to 00:30

The hours open to the public were set as:

• Sunday to Thursday: 11:00 to 23:30
• Friday and Saturday: 11:00 to 00:30

In addition to these hours, a number of conditions were imposed to promote the licensing objectives. These included: displaying a visible telephone number for complaints, installing and maintaining high-definition CCTV, displaying CCTV signage, ensuring staff training on the Licensing Act 2003, maintaining a daily incident log, keeping a record of complaints, submitting a Noise Management Plan, conducting proactive litter patrols, displaying signs reminding patrons to respect neighbours, and a condition that the licence would remain in force for six months from its effective date, subject to a further application.

The committee's decision was made after considering all representations and the applicant's operating schedule, aiming to balance the applicant's business needs with the protection of the local community.