The Licensing and Consents Appeals Committee met to consider an application for the review of a premises licence relating to Betsy's X LDS. Environmental Health had applied for the review, and the committee was scheduled to consider the application, as well as representations from other parties. The report pack contained a recommendation that the licence be revoked.

Review of Premises Licence for Betsy's X LDS

The Sub-Committee - Licensing and Consents Appeals was scheduled to review the premises licence for Betsy's X LDS at 1a Bore Street, Lichfield, WS13 6LJ.

Environmental Health, a responsible authority, applied for a review of the premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003. Tracy Caddy, a contact officer, noted that the application was received on 23 July 2025. The grounds for the review related to three of the four licensing objectives:

• Prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• Prevention of public nuisance

According to the report pack, Environmental Health believed that these objectives were being undermined.

Grounds for Review

The report pack stated that the grounds for the review were:

• Prevention of crime and disorder: Alleged persistent breaches of the permitted hours and conditions of the licence.
• Public safety: The alleged unlawful conversion of part of the premises into living accommodation, and its subsequent occupation by employees.
• Prevention of public nuisance: Alleged failure to keep the premises free from litter.

Environmental Health and the Police had requested that the premises licence be revoked, which would limit the premises to opening between 05:00 and 23:00 daily.

The report pack outlined the options available to the sub-committee:

a) To do nothing.

b) To issue an informal warning to the licence holder, and/or to recommend improvement within a particular period of time.

c) To modify the conditions of the licence, which may include adding new conditions or any alteration or omission of an existing condition.

d) To suspend the licence for a period not exceeding three months.

e) To revoke the licence.

The report pack noted that the sub-committee should take into account any prior warnings issued by responsible authorities.

Environmental Health Application

Jack Twomey, Environmental Protection and Housing Manager within Environmental Health, submitted the application for review. The application stated that the review related to the persistent failure by the licence-holder to comply with the licensing objectives.

The premises licence was for the provision of late night refreshment, which is regulated due to the potential for premises serving hot food late at night to attract anti-social behaviour. The premises licence specified the following hours:

• Sunday to Thursday: 07:30 - 23:00
• Friday and Saturday: 07:30 - 02:00 (after 23:00 hours serving via the takeaway hatch only)

The application stated that the premises had consistently operated beyond the hours for which it was licensed, despite warnings. It was also claimed that the business had advertised incorrect opening hours on its website and on food delivery apps.

The application also referred to an incident on 27 April 2025, when an environmental health officer allegedly found people being served hot food inside the premises after 23:00. It was also alleged that the premises licence was not on display. Jennifer Whittle and Stephen Pearce both provided statements regarding test purchases they made at the premises after 23:00, where they were served hot food. Jack Twomey also stated that he was served hot food from the hatch of Betsy's after 23:00 on 14 July 2025.

The application also stated that in 2024, the business was found to have converted the office/storage space above the restaurant into accommodation without planning permission¹. The application stated that a retrospective planning application was refused, and the decision was upheld on appeal. Despite this, in May 2025, it was alleged that 8 people were found living above the premises on makeshift beds. Lichfield District Council officers served a prohibition order under the Housing Act 2004.

The application also stated that the business had been given several warnings about litter at the entrance to the premises. James Johnson provided email information regarding this.

Police Representations

Staffordshire Police submitted representations in support of the review. PC Paul Heaney stated that on 22 June 2025, a police officer witnessed the hatch still open and serving a customer at 02:20hrs.

PC Paul Heaney also stated that a licensing compliance visit was conducted on 1 July 2025, and a number of conditions on the premises licence were allegedly not being adhered to at the time. These included issues with CCTV, notices, and the display of the premises licence summary.

PC Paul Heaney stated that on 11 July 2025, a formal police interview was conducted with Mohammed Zaeem Chohan, director of operations for the company that holds the current premises licence. PC Paul Heaney stated that Mohammed Zaeem Chohan accepted personal responsibility for offences under the Licensing Act 2003.

PC Paul Heaney stated that Staffordshire Police had no confidence that any premises licence would be complied with based on the recent failings that were identified and the recent evidence provided by the council.