This Licensing Panel meeting was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Eat Lebo, a restaurant at 10A The Broadway, Gunnersbury Lane, Acton Town. Two representations were received about the application, which raised concerns about noise and nuisance. No representation was received from the Metropolitan Police Service, who had already agreed to a set of conditions with the applicant.

Eat Lebo, 10A The Broadway, Gunnersbury Lane, Acton Town

This application was made by Eat Lebo Acton Limited. The report pack contains a copy of the application form, which seeks permission for the sale of alcohol on and off the premises from 10:00 to 23:30 from Sunday to Thursday, and from 10:00 to 00:30 on Fridays and Saturdays. The application also requests permission for the following:

• Recorded Music (Indoors): 10:00 to 00:00 from Sunday to Thursday, and 10:00 to 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Late Night Refreshment (Indoors): 23:00 to 00:00 from Sunday to Thursday, and 23:00 to 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

The application form states that the premises will be open to the public from 10:00 to 00:00 from Sunday to Thursday, and 10:00 to 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.

Representations

The report pack contains copies of two representations.

Councillor Joanna Biddolph submitted a representation, which is included in the report pack. She stated that she is concerned about the impact of late night noise on residents of the flats above the premises and the potential for public nuisance. She noted that the premises is close to the border with Ealing, and that there are houses on the other side of the road. She added that there had been previous issues with noise from parties held at a former House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) at one of the flats above the shops, which caused great distress to neighbours. She stated that:

It is still talked about locally, because of the distress it caused.

Councillor Biddolph went on to say that a recent application from another shop on the parade, The Local, had had its hours scaled back to protect residents from disturbance. She also drew a parallel with Gunnersbury Park, where events have a strict cut-off point after which no music can be broadcast, and said that these hours should also influence the hours Eat Lebo can trade.

Councillor Biddolph then listed the licensed hours for three other hospitality businesses along the parade: Aquarium, Base Pizza, and WFT Fish and Chips, before stating that the previous occupier of the premises, Casereccio, had been permitted to sell alcohol for consumption on and off the premises from 11:00 to 23:00 and to play recorded music from 08:00 to 23:00. She said:

It would be odd not to put the same restrictions on a new applicant along this parade.

Councillor Biddolph concluded by stating that the licensing hours for Eat Lebo should end no later than 23.00, matching Casereccio, to protect residents from noise nuisance.

She also raised concerns about the impact of noise from customers seated in the proposed external seating area and the potential need for a pavement licence.

The report pack also includes a representation from a member of the public, who expressed concerns about noise from the restaurant and the impact of late licensing hours on the character of the area. They said:

Such late hours will also attract a different clientele to the other restaurants along that road and there may well be public nuisance and possible crime resulting from such late night revelries.

Metropolitan Police Service Agreement

The report pack includes copies of emails from PC Mark Johnstone, a licensing officer at Hounslow Police, to Ms Hilda Cameron, the agent acting for Eat Lebo Acton Limited. PC Johnstone stated that he had reviewed the application and that he found it acceptable, subject to a set of conditions, which are included in the report pack. These conditions include the requirement for the premises to install and maintain a comprehensive CCTV system that records 24 hours a day. The footage must be stored for a minimum of 31 days, and be made available to the police or an authorised council officer upon request. PC Johnstone also proposed a number of other conditions relating to signage, the prevention of crime and disorder, the protection of children from harm, and the sale of alcohol.

The report pack states that Ms Cameron responded to PC Johnstone's email to confirm that the applicant agrees to all of the proposed conditions.