The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application by Mr Yasin Siddiqi to vary the premises licence of The Log Cabin, Whipps Cross Road, Leytonstone, E11 1NR. The Sub-Committee granted the application in part, allowing The Log Cabin to sell alcohol for consumption on the premises only between 12:00 and 21:00, Monday to Sunday. The Sub-Committee refused the request to extend the opening hours to 05:00.

The Log Cabin, Whipps Cross Road, Leytonstone, E11 1NR

Mr Siddiqi applied to vary the licence of The Log Cabin to allow the sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises from 07:00 to 23:00 daily, and to extend the opening hours of the premises from 06:00 to 05:00. The application also sought to revise the existing premises plan to include the outside seating area.

The Licensing Officer reported that the Licensing Service had received three representations from other persons, objecting to the application on the grounds of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder. No representations were received from any Responsible Authorities.

The Sub-Committee heard from Mr Yasin Siddiqi and Mr Mohammed Siddiqi, supporting the application, and from Councillors Clyde Loakes and Marie Pye, objecting to the application.

In his evidence, Mr Yasin Siddiqi explained that the premises had been a family-run business for 16 years without problems. He stated:

The reason for the application was because our customers had requested that they would like to have alcohol with their meals and alcohol would only be sold with food.

Mr Siddiqi confirmed that he was happy to reduce the requested hours in his application to allow the sale of alcohol from 12:00 to 21:00, and to reduce the opening hours to 07:00 to 23:00. He added:

We want to bring the community together and also increase our profit margins. Alcohol was already readily available from other sources locally, [we] would not contribute to any ASB in the area, and would always pick up rubbish around [our] premises.

Councillor Loakes objected to the application, stating that it would create serious anti-social behaviour problems, damage the environment due to extra litter and create a fire risk. He added that the location was in close proximity to Epping Forest, a Site of Special Scientific Interest¹, and expressed concern about the effect on young children using school routes near the premises.

Councillor Pye echoed Councillor Loakes’ concerns, stating that she passes the premises every day and that the level of anti-social behaviour in the area was already significant, with incidents including sexual assaults. She added that granting the application would exacerbate the situation and create a risk to children.

The Sub-Committee noted that there would be no off-sales of alcohol, and that the applicant had proposed conditions in the operating schedule to promote the licensing objectives. In addition, they considered the lack of objections from Responsible Authorities and determined that granting the application in part would not change the nature of the premises, would mitigate any potential negative impact and was both proportionate and appropriate to promote the licensing objectives.

The Sub-Committee granted the application to vary the licence to include the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises only between 12:00 and 21:00, Monday to Sunday. The Sub-Committee also imposed a condition that all alcoholic drinks must be served in open plastic or non-breakable drinking vessels and that no cans or bottles of alcohol be sold. The Sub-Committee also amended an existing condition of the licence which required staff to undertake a daily litter pick, adding a requirement that this be undertaken to a distance of 30m around the premises.

The application to extend the opening hours to 05:00 was refused, and the application to add off-sales of alcohol was also refused. The application to revise the premises plan to include the outside seating area was granted.