The Licensing Sub-Committee of Ealing Council met on 10 July 2025 to discuss a summary review of the premises licence for Al Shorfa Ltd and to review panel procedure guidance. The meeting was held virtually and was available to view via a live webcast. Councillor Kim Kaur Nagpal, was scheduled to chair the meeting, with Councillor Julian Gallant and Councillor Tariq Mahmood also in attendance.

Here's a summary of the topics that the committee was scheduled to discuss:

Al Shorfa Ltd Licence Review

The primary focus of the meeting was a full review of the premises licence held by Al Shorfa Ltd for Al Shorfa Ltd, Centre House, St Leonards Road, Park Royal. The review was prompted by an application from the Metropolitan Police, following an incident of serious crime and disorder that occurred at the premises on 9 June 2025.

According to the report pack, a Police Superintendent certified that the premises are associated with serious crime, and that the conduct of the premises demonstrates a disregard for the licensing objectives and places the public at risk of serious harm.

The Licensing Sub-Committee had previously convened on 19 June 2025 to consider interim steps, resolving to modify the conditions of the licence.

The report pack outlined the licensable activities authorised by the current premises licence:

• Retail sale of alcohol (on supplies): Friday to Saturday 11:00 to 01:30, Sunday to Thursday 11:00 to 00:30
• Live music (indoors): Friday to Saturday 11:00 to 03:30, Sunday to Thursday 11:00 to 01:30
• Recorded music (indoors): Friday to Saturday 11:00 to 03:30, Sunday to Thursday 11:00 to 01:30
• Performance of dance (indoors): Friday to Saturday 11:00 to 01:30, Sunday to Thursday 11:00 to 00:30
• Late night refreshment (indoors): Friday to Saturday 23:00 to 03:30, Sunday to Thursday 23:00 to 01:30
• Opening Hours: Friday to Saturday 11:00 to 04:00, Sunday to Thursday 11:00 to 02:00

The report pack stated that Al Shorfa is a shisha lounge and restaurant, and is not located within a Special Policy Area as defined in the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy¹.

The sub-committee was asked to consider the review application, the existing licence and its conditions, any representations made by the premises licence holder or their representative, and the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy.

The options available to the sub-committee were:

a) the modification of the conditions of the premises licence,

b) the exclusion of a licensable activity from the scope of the licence,

c) the removal of the designated premises supervisor from the licence,

d) the suspension of the licence for a period not exceeding three months,

e) the revocation of the licence; or

f) leave the licence as it is.

Public reports pack Thursday 10-Jul-2025 10.30 Licensing Sub-Committee.pdf

The report pack included a statement from Police Constable Vickie Hewison, a police constable attached to the Metropolitan Police Service at Ealing Police Station, in support of the review application. PC Hewison's statement detailed a number of incidents that had occurred at Al Shorfa, including:

• 20 April 2024: Common assault by Rehan Ahmed on a council licensing officer.
• 18 August 2024: A male recorded a female without her consent, zooming in on her bottom area, and posted the footage on social media.
• 11 September 2024: Common assault after a customer complained about the length of time his food order was taking.
• 13 October 2024: A fight involving approximately 30 people outside of the premises.
• 16 November 2024: Assault in the toilets, with the victim stating that one of the males had robbed his shop previously and that the males threatened to kill him.
• 8 December 2024: A racially aggravated assault on two Iraqi men by a group of 20-30 Syrian men.
• 22 December 2024: An anonymous call reporting that Al Shorfa was being used to sell Class B drugs².
• 28 December 2024: A male was found with cuts to the right side of his face after a disturbance at the premises.
• 10 January 2025: Mr Ahmed called police stating that 14 to 15 intoxicated men were trying to force their way into the premises.
• 23 January 2025: A resident reported noise and music being played until 04:00hrs.
• 8 February 2025: An intoxicated male reported that he had a fight with security and that security had knives on them.
• 9 February 2025: Mr Ahmed reported an intoxicated male who was being aggressive and verbally abusive to staff.
• 31 March 2025: A male reported that someone hit him and raised a knife at him.
• 3 May 2025: Mr Ahmed reported that a customer had attacked his security and was banging the door down.
• 4 May 2025: A customer reported that he had been assaulted by a group of girls and that security had grabbed him and chucked him outside to the suspects again.
• 12 May 2025: A female reported that she had been assaulted in the car park of Al Shorfa Restaurant after she had gone to apologise to a girl for her boyfriend's behaviour.
• 24 May 2025: Victims allege that the suspect has been targeting them and making them feel panic, alarm, distress, and they are in fear of violence.
• 8 June 2025: Intelligence report that subject has gone to the Al Shorfa Lounge and his son has gone to the toilet and came back and told him he saw lots of men inside the toilet with white powder on the side and sniffing it.
• 9 June 2025: GBH and Violent Disorder, CAD 8447/09JUN25, CAD 8450/09JUN25.

PC Hewison's statement also detailed a viewing of CCTV footage from the venue on 11 June 2025, which showed Mr Ahmed and others in possession of weapons, and an incident on 9 June 2025 where the premises was operating over its licensed hours.

The report pack also included a statement from Robert Dear, a Licensing Compliance & Enforcement Officer for the London Borough of Ealing, regarding a visit to Al Shorfa on 20 April 2024. Mr Dear stated that he was obstructed from entering the premises by Mr Ahmed, and that Mr Ahmed was later arrested for assault.

Panel Procedure Guidance Note

The sub-committee was also scheduled to review a Panel Procedure Guidance Note. The guidance note outlines the procedure to be followed at Licensing Sub-Committee Hearings, including the presentation of applications, representations from interested parties, and the sub-committee's decision-making process. The note states that parties to the hearing can be represented by a friend or legal adviser who acts as their spokesperson.