The Licensing Sub-Committee (2) of Westminster Council scheduled a meeting to discuss licensing applications for Taco Bell and Strand News. The committee, composed of Councillor Maggie Carman, Deputy Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Supported and Specialist Housing, Councillor Barbara Arzymanow, and Councillor Hamza Taouzzale, was expected to consider new premises and variations to existing licenses, taking into account the City of Westminster statement of Licensing Policy and guidance issued by the Secretary of State.

Taco Bell, 187 Baker Street

The committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Taco Bell, located at 187 Baker Street in Regent's Park. Karali QSR Limited applied for the licence to allow the premises to operate as a fast food restaurant with late night refreshment.

The proposed hours for licensable activities were:

• Late Night Refreshment (indoors and outdoors): Monday to Sunday, 23:00 to 04:00
• Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 10:00 to 04:00

The application received objections from the Environmental Health Service, the Metropolitan Police Service, and several residents.

Maxwell Koduah, representing the Environmental Health Service, raised concerns about the application conflicting with the council's licensing policy, specifically Fast-Food Policy FFP1 and Restaurants Policy RNT1, and potentially increasing public nuisance and impacting public safety. They suggested several conditions to be added if the application was granted, including noise and odour control, restrictions on deliveries and waste disposal, and measures to manage delivery drivers.

PC Dave Morgan of the Metropolitan Police Service, objected to the application based on the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. PC Dave Morgan noted that the hours sought were beyond Westminster Council's Core Hours policy for fast food venues. PC Dave Morgan stated:

As stated in Westminster Councils Fast Food Policy FFP1, 'venues which are open after 11pm can attract large groups of customers, many of whom have been consuming alcohol in pubs. bars, or night clubs sometimes some distance away. The congregation of people around these premises leads to additional noise and disturbance and further congestion in the area'.

Residents also raised concerns regarding potential increases in drunken behaviour, noise from delivery drivers, public urination, and intimidation. One resident stated:

The noise generated by large groups of delivery drivers gathering late at night is already a problem. These drivers congregate on Baker Street, playing loud music and engaging in disruptive behaviour long after other fast-food outlets have closed. Allowing Taco Bell to operate until 4am would exacerbate this, encouraging larger gatherings and further contributing to the noise and chaos in our area.

The Metropolitan Police Service provided additional information, including a statement from PC Harman, a Dedicated Ward Officer (DWO) in the Baker Street area, detailing ongoing issues with delivery riders causing crime and anti-social behaviour. The police acknowledged the applicant's proposed home delivery policy but expressed concern that it would not prevent wider issues of riders congregating and causing disturbances away from the venue.

Taco Bell's home delivery policy stated that the restaurant would only trade to members of the public until 23:00, with home delivery services operating between 23:00 and 05:00. After 23:00, the restaurant would operate as a dark kitchen¹ with no public access, signage indicating home delivery only, and reduced lighting and music. The policy also outlined measures for order collections, deliveries, and driver conduct, including the use of electric or pedal vehicles, designated waiting areas inside the restaurant, and reporting procedures for inappropriate behaviour.

The report pack also included a premises history, proposed conditions, and a residential map showing over 1,000 residential dwellings within 150m of the premises.

Strand News, 145 Strand

The sub-committee was scheduled to review the premises licence for Strand News, located at 145 Strand, following an application by the Home Office Immigration Enforcement. The application was based on the grounds that the licence holder had failed to meet the licensing objectives of prevention of crime and disorder, as illegal working had been identified at the premises.

The application stated that during two visits in March 2025, Immigration Enforcement officers encountered individuals working at the premises who did not have the legal right to work in the UK. As a result, two referrals were made to the Civil Penalty Compliance Team, with penalties of £40,000 issued for each incident.

The report stated that on 06 March 2025, an individual was seen working behind the shop counter and selling cigarettes. This individual admitted to working at the premises for approximately six months and stated that they were paid in cash without paying taxes. Home Office records indicated that the individual was an overstayer with no right to work in the UK.

On 18 March 2025, another individual was observed serving customers and identified himself as managing the business. This individual also admitted to working at the shop without the right to work in the UK and receiving cash payments without paying taxes.

The application noted that neither of the workers were named on the section 57 notice[^3] displayed at the premises.

The Home Office Immigration Enforcement requested that the premises licence be revoked, arguing that merely imposing additional conditions or a suspension would be insufficient to deter the licence holder and other premises' licence holders from employing illegal workers.

Representations in support of the review were received from the Licensing Authority, the Metropolitan Police Service, and Environmental Health.

Jessica Donovan, Senior Licensing Officer, stated that the Licensing Authority had concerns about the operation of the premises and how it promoted the licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of crime and disorder. Jessica Donovan referenced guidance stating that licensing authorities should work with Home Office Immigration Enforcement to prevent illegal working in licensed premises and that revocation of the licence should be seriously considered in cases where the crime prevention objective is being undermined.

PC Steve Muldoon of the Metropolitan Police Service, supported the application, stating serious concerns around the day-to-day management of the premises.

Maxwell Owusu Koduah, representing Environmental Health, stated that they would be supporting the review application.

The report pack included details of the enforcement visits, witness statements, photographs, and a residential map showing 12 residents within 75m of the premises.

Strand News, 145 Strand - Premises Licence Variation

The sub-committee was also scheduled to consider an application to transfer the premises licence for Strand News to Mr Dinesh Chhaganbhai Patel.

The Metropolitan Police Service and the Home Office objected to the transfer. PC Steve Muldoon stated that the police believed that granting the application would undermine the licensing objectives, citing offences related to persons employed by the current licence holder.

The Home Office stated that they objected to the transfer due to illegal employment practices, management absence and non-compliance, and linked premises issues. The Home Office noted that during multiple visits, it was confirmed that the licence holder was away in India and not contactable, leaving the premises without proper supervision and management.

The report pack included a consent form from the current premises licence holder, as well as a residential map showing 98 residents within 75m of the premises.