The Licensing Sub-Committee convened to consider an application for a new premises licence for Brothers Lounge Restaurant. The committee was also scheduled to discuss procedure for licensing hearings.

Brothers Lounge Restaurant

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Brothers Lounge Restaurant, located at 190-192 Longwood Gardens, Clayhall, Ilford, IG5 0EW. The applicant, Niko Dauti, sought permission to sell alcohol on the premises. The agent for the applicant was listed as Kaplan Consulting UK.

The proposed hours for the sale of alcohol were:

• Sunday to Thursday: 10:00 until 23:00
• Friday and Saturday: 10:00 until 00:00

The proposed opening hours were:

• Sunday to Thursday: 07:00 until 23:30
• Friday and Saturday: 07:00 until 00:30

The application described the premises as a café restaurant.

The report pack included the application and supporting documents, a premises layout plan, Google Street View images and a location map.

Objections

The sub-committee was expected to consider objections to the application. Three representations from other persons and four from responsible authorities were received, raising concerns about the potential impact on the four licensing objectives¹:

• the prevention of crime and disorder
• public safety
• the prevention of public nuisance
• the protection of children from harm

Representations from other persons included concerns about the location of the premises near residential properties, and the potential for increased crime, anti-social behaviour, noise, traffic and litter.

Representations from responsible authorities included concerns from the Metropolitan Police Licensing Team, the Licensing Authority, the Community Protection Tasking force (acting in their capacity as Environmental Heath (noise)), and Health & Safety.

PC Matt Brown, Licensing Officer for the Metropolitan Police, stated that police were objecting to the application on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder. He referred to a previous licensing hearing on 1 July 2022, where an application from the same applicant was refused because they were operating unlawfully as a shisha lounge, in contravention of the Health Act 2006². PC Matt Brown also stated that licensing enforcement officers had visited the premises on 25 June 2025 and 17 July 2025 and found that the applicant was still not complying with the Health Act 2006.

April Smart, Senior Noise Nuisance Officer for the Community Protection Team, raised concerns about noise from patrons, the lack of designated parking, and the shisha area not complying with the 50% rule regarding smoking in an enclosed space.

Ioannis Ifantidis, Environmental Health Officer, stated that the premises were undermining the public safety licensing objective because they were breaching the Health Act 2006 and the Smoke-free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006, due to failing to comply with the 50% permanently open rule.

Priya Cheema, Licensing Enforcement Officer, stated that the premises did not have planning permission to operate a shisha lounge, and that there were concerns that children would be exposed to shisha and other smoking taking place on the premises.

Licensing Policy Considerations

The report pack included consideration of the council's statement of licensing policy, which is available on the council's website. The policy provides guidance on the licensing authority's approach to new premises licences for applicants, and makes specific reference to restaurants, cafes and coffee houses.

The policy also mentions that the licensing authority will usually expect the premises to close thirty minutes after the terminal hour for licensable activities.

The framework hours for licensed restaurants and cafes in the Barkingside area are:

• Monday to Thursday: 10:00-23:30
• Friday to Saturday: 10:00-00:00
• Sunday: 11:00-23:00

Recommendations

The licensing sub-committee was asked to consider the report and decide whether to:

• Grant the application
• Grant the application, including the addition of terms and conditions
• Grant the application in part only, including the addition of terms and conditions
• Reject the application

Procedure for Licensing Hearings

The sub-committee was scheduled to discuss the procedure to be adopted at the hearing. An officer of the Licensing Authority was expected to present a short factual summary of the application. The sub-committee was then expected to consider evidence from the applicant, responsible authorities and interested parties. Each party would have the opportunity to question the other parties and the members of the sub-committee. Each party would then have the opportunity to sum up their case. The sub-committee would then decide the matter in private.