The Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for The Lodge, located at Kingsbury Road, NW9 9HA. The meeting's agenda also included standard procedural items.

Application for a New Premises Licence at The Lodge

The Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for The Lodge, Kingsbury Road, NW9 9HA, submitted by Mr Hamid Farooqi. The application was for the provision of late-night refreshment from 11:00 pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, with the premises to remain open from 7:00 am to 11:00 pm on Sundays to Thursdays and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

The report pack indicated that representations had been received and subsequently withdrawn from the Police and Licensing Officer. However, representations remained outstanding from local residents. Four emails supporting the application were also received.

The applicant, Mr Hamid Farooqi, proposed that the premises would operate as a restaurant offering pizza, kebabs, and Arabic cuisine. Crucially, the application stated that there would be no alcohol, shisha, or regulated entertainment provided. Takeaway services were scheduled to cease by 10:00 pm.

The report pack detailed the steps the applicant intended to take to promote the four licensing objectives:

• Prevention of Crime and Disorder: The applicant stated that CCTV would be installed and recordings retained for 31 days. Staff would be trained, and an incident log would be kept.
• Public Safety: The applicant indicated that a fire risk assessment would be conducted, and a fire alarm and extinguishers would be installed.
• Prevention of Public Nuisance: It was noted that there would be no entertainment of live music. Signs would be displayed asking customers to leave quietly.
• Protection of Children from Harm: The applicant stated that no alcohol would be provided to customers, and staff would be trained.

The report pack also included correspondence from local residents and residents' associations who had raised objections to the application. These objections primarily focused on concerns related to the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and public nuisance. Specific concerns included the premises' sensitive location within Roe Green Park and adjacent to residential areas, the historical issues associated with the previous operation of the premises, including noise nuisance and breaches of licence conditions, and the current condition of the building and grounds.

The applicant, Mr Farooqi, responded to these concerns, highlighting that the proposed operation was significantly different from previous operations. He stated that he had unconditionally accepted a comprehensive set of conditions proposed by the Metropolitan Police, which included measures for CCTV, incident recording, customer dispersal, and restrictions on shisha and music. The Police subsequently withdrew their representation. Mr Farooqi also clarified that takeaway services would end at 10:00 pm daily, and the late-night refreshment hours on Fridays and Saturdays were intended for indoor restaurant service only.

Further correspondence indicated that Brent Council's Licensing Authority had also withdrawn its representation after the applicant agreed to proposed conditions. However, objections from residents' associations and individual residents persisted, reiterating concerns about noise, disturbance, and the suitability of the location for late-night operations, particularly in light of the premises' history and condition. The applicant continued to emphasize the differences between the proposed operation and past issues, stressing the absence of alcohol, shisha, and live music, and the commitment to adhering to the agreed conditions.