The Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee were scheduled to convene to consider an application for a new premises licence. The meeting was scheduled to take place in person at the Brent Civic Centre.

New Premises Licence Application - 416 Ealing Road

The sub-committee were scheduled to consider a new premises licence application by Jaz Walia for 416 Ealing Road, Wembley, HA0 1JQ.

The application was for a time limited premises licence, between 22 September 2025 and 1 October 2025, to allow for regulated entertainment and late night refreshment, between 6pm and 11pm Monday to Thursday, and between 6pm and midnight Friday to Sunday.

According to the application form, the premises, known as Alperton Studios, would host a stage platform with live performers, singers and dancing for Navratri celebrations.

Navratri is a Hindu festival that spans nine nights and ten days, and is celebrated in the autumn every year¹.

The event management plan stated that the Alperton Navratri event would be a local community-based event, with activities including a stage with dancers, religious music and food. It was expected that 1,500 people would attend each night, and that the event would be ticketed.

The event management plan also stated that security and stewarding would be in place, and that there would be 100% bag searches. The plan specified items that would be prohibited, including firearms, knives, explosives, drugs and alcohol.

Representations

The report pack included details of representations that had been received in relation to the application.

Tim Rolt, Planning Enforcement Manager at Brent Council, objected to the application, stating that the council had issued a planning enforcement notice on the premises due to noise and disturbance caused by holding the Navratri event at the premises last year. He said that the building was not designed to hold such events, that there was no sound proofing, and that the noise echoed around the building and escaped the walls and cavities. He also said that the number of cars travelling to the site caused considerable inconvenience to nearby residents. Tim Rolt stated:

The granting of this license will facilitate the criminal act of breach a planning enforcement notice. This is not a mere regulatory provision of the planning acts but is considered a serious crime that is triable either way in the courts. In short the crime of breaching the enforcement notice will cause undue noise and disturbance and loss of amenity to neighbouring residents.

Diane Lewis, Nuisance Control Officer, also objected to the application, stating that the likely effect of the approval of the premises licence would be detrimental to the licensing objectives with regards to the prevention of public nuisance. She said that there were a number of residential properties nearby that may be affected by noise, and that the premises was of a warehouse-type structure, primarily metal in composition, and therefore offering little by way of sound attenuation. She added that the Nuisance Control Team had received complaints from local residents regarding noise from loud amplified music from previous events at the premises, and that residents had also raised concerns over parking by patrons in local streets.

A local resident also objected to the application, stating that the noise from the event last year was loud and constant, and that they were unable to sleep. They also said that they were so tired that they were unable to attend work on two days as they didn't feel it was safe for them to drive.

PC Phil Graves, Brent Licensing Officer for the Metropolitan Police Service, initially made representations, but withdrew them after agreeing conditions with Jaz Walia. These included that the venue's CCTV system should be in full operation, that pre-paying guests should be issued with wrist bands, that no alcohol should be sold or supplied at the venue, that there should be ten SIA staff on duty, that there should be no queuing outside the venue, that all bags should be searched, that any children under the age of 16 should be accompanied by a responsible adult, that no re-entry would be allowed after 22:30 hours on each day, and that no glass should be permitted inside the venue.

Edwin Maldoom, Licensing Enforcement Officer, stated that the Licensing Authority had no objections to make against the premises licence application, given the agreement regarding licence conditions.

Proposed Licence Conditions

The report pack also contained a list of proposed licence conditions. These included:

• The maximum number of attendees (excluding authorised staff members) present for each day of the event should not exceed 1500 persons.
• There should be a minimum of 10 SIA-licenced staff on-site each day throughout the event.
• Attendees should not be permitted to bring any items into the designated premises event area that are listed as prohibited or restricted within the event management plan.
• The premises should install, operate, and maintain a digital colour CCTV system.
• There should be at least one designated medical area within the premises.
• Notices should be displayed at the entrance stipulating the operating hours of the premises.
• A dedicated audio-visual team should be on-site to manage and monitor sound levels.
• The premises should undertake a Sound Management Plan.
• There should be no alcohol sold, consumed or permitted within the premises licence area.
• A Lost/Found Children & Vulnerable Persons Policy should be in place for the event.