The Licensing Sub Committee is meeting to discuss an application to vary the premises licence and an application to review the premises licence for Chez Nicky, 295 West Green Road, London, N15. The sub-committee, consisting of Councillor Anna Abela, Chair of Licensing Committee, Councillor Elin Weston, and Councillor Nick da Costa, will hear from the Licensing Officer, the applicant, and any objectors, before making a decision in writing within five working days. The sub-committee can modify or revoke the licence, exclude licensable activities, or remove the designated premises supervisor.

Application for Review of Premises Licence

The sub-committee will consider an application for the review of the premises licence for Chez Nicky, submitted by the Haringey Noise & Nuisance Team. The review application cites concerns about noise affecting nearby residents and the use of the rear area, which the applicant is allegedly not permitted to use under the current licence.

The report pack includes a copy of the review application, which states that the Noise and Nuisance Team has received multiple complaints regarding noise from music and the use of the rear area. The review application lists several dates on which officers allegedly witnessed breaches of the licence, including:

• 4 May, when officers attended at 1.25am and found people in the back area with drinks and food.
• 14 July, when a member of the public reported the venue appeared to still be open at 4.00am, and that very late opening hours and noise disturbances are a regular occurrence.
• 26 July, when officers attended the premises at 1.15am and found approximately 5 people in the rear area with low level music playing, and Mr Mampasi Lemba said that he had a Temporary Event Notice¹ (TEN) for this evening, but officers advised him that the TEN had been refused.
• 18 August 2025, when an officer was driving past at 1.00am and saw lights on and people drinking and eating inside, but Mr Mampasi Lemba refused to open the door.
• 24 August 2025, when an officer arrived outside the premises at approximately 1.30am and saw a number of individuals inside, and the manager's wife opened the door to allow a man to enter, then closed and locked the door upon noticing the officer's presence.

The review application includes copies of warning letters sent to Mr Mampasi Lemba, Director and Designated Premises Supervisor² (DPS) of Chez Nicky, following the alleged breaches on 26 July and 24 August.

The review application recommends that the sub-committee consider the following steps to reduce the noise impact and continued licensing breaches:

• The rear area cannot be used until it has been approved by planning.
• If it is approved by planning, then additional sound proofing measures to be put in place for the rear area and the licensee must hire a qualified acoustic consultant to conduct a noise assessment of the premises.
• The licensee must then implement the recommended soundproofing measures within 12 weeks of the report being completed and signed off.
• Removal of Regulated Entertainment³
• Removal of Late Night Refreshments
• Reduced hours for the supply of alcohol and opening hours.

The report pack also includes representations in support of the review from residents, and representations in support of Chez Nicky. One resident, Bernadette, states that she strongly objects to the premises being permitted to retain their licence due to concerns about public nuisance and crime and disorder. She claims that previous licence breaches have not been adhered to, and that the premises is being used as a party venue and not as per the original license terms. She also raises concerns about the passageway leading from the flats at 297 West Green Road, which runs alongside the back area, and the threat to life if there were a fire in the back area of the restaurant. Several letters of support for Chez Nicky claim that the restaurant complies with the four licensing objectives⁴, and that recent improvements have been made to enhance the dining experience, including soundproofing and insulation.

Application for Variation of Premises Licence

The sub-committee will also consider an application from Chez Nicky Ltd to vary the premises licence. The application seeks to vary the layout of the premises to include the garden/rear area, and to remove and amend some of the current conditions on the licence. Specifically, the application seeks to:

• Extend the hours for late night refreshment and the sale of alcohol until 2.00am Sunday to Thursday, and until 3.00am Friday and Saturday.
• Extend the hours for late night refreshment and the sale of alcohol on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years' Eve and New Year's Day until 3.00am.
• Allow the supply of alcohol ON and OFF the premises.
• Extend the hours open to the public until 2.30am Sunday to Thursday, and until 3.30am Friday and Saturday.
• Extend the hours open to the public on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years' Eve and New Year's Day until 3.30am.

The report pack notes that representations have been received from the Noise RA, residents and the Metropolitan Police. The report pack includes a copy of a representation from Craig Bellringer, Senior Noise and Nuisance Officer, who states that he has no faith in the management to uphold the four licensing objectives due to further breaches of the licence witnessed by the Noise and Nuisance team. Mr Bellringer states that his representation for this variation is to refuse the extension of the hours and the rear area included to offer licensable activities due to the ongoing breaches of the current licence, and that he is also in the view to start the review process on the current licence. The report pack includes a copy of a representation from a resident of West Green Road, who states that the level of noise coming from the property during the night is unbearable and causes significant disturbance, and that they have previously raised objections on this matter, yet it appears that no effective action has been taken to address the problem. The report pack includes a copy of a representation from Bernadette, who refers to previous licence breaches and states that she would like to oppose the changes to the license that were asked for, as the premises are already causing a public nuisance to residents.

The report pack notes that the premises is located in a terrace of shops with residential above and to the rear, and that the current premises licence restricts the use of the rear area. It also notes that Mr Mampasi Lemba has continually used the rear area since the granting of the licence, and that Mr Mampasi Lemba has now obtained Planning Permission for the use of the rear area. The report pack includes a copy of the planning permission, which is a retrospective application to use the internal rear space to provide 44 additional seats, and includes conditions relating to the installation of a solid/green roof and restrictions on the use of the rear access door facing onto Olive Grove.

The report pack notes that the government has issued new guidance (not statutory guidance) that advises that licensing decisions should complement, not undermine, planning and regeneration efforts, and that licensing policies should complement local economic, cultural, and night-time economy strategies, and work in harmony with planning policy to avoid conflict.

The report pack includes a copy of the application form, which states that the variation is to seek an extension of the trading hours, to increase the licensable area by including the back area, and to remove some of the current conditions from the licence. The application form identifies several conditions currently imposed on the licence which the applicant believes could be removed as a consequence of the proposed variation, including the condition that two SIA⁵ registered door supervisors will be engaged on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, and the condition that the outside garden /rear area to be closed to all patrons at all times.