The Licensing Sub Committee of Haringey Council scheduled a meeting to discuss a new premises licence application. The application was for Lilywhites, a sandwich bar on High Road, Tottenham. The committee was scheduled to hear from the licensing officer, the applicant, and any objectors, before adjourning to make a decision.

Lilywhites, 799 High Road, Tottenham

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider a new premises licence application for Lilywhites, 799 High Road, Tottenham. Andebrhan Tekeste applied for the licence, seeking permission to:

• Serve late night refreshments from 23:00 to 04:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
• Sell alcohol from 09:00 to 02:00 Monday to Thursday, 09:00 to 04:00 Friday to Saturday and 11:00 to 12:00 on Sundays, for consumption both on and off the premises.
• Open to the public from 09:00 to 02:00 Monday to Thursday, 09:00 to 04:00 Friday to Saturday and 11:00 to 12:00 on Sundays.

According to the report pack for the meeting, representations had been received from the Metropolitan Police, Trading Standards, and the Noise & Nuisance RA Team¹.

The Licensing Authority first became aware of the premises in August 2021, when they enquired about licences required for a shisha lounge. A temporary event notice² was submitted for licensable activity between 2 and 4 August 2025, with the Noise Team making a representation.

On 16 and 17 August 2025, the Noise & Nuisance Team visited the premises and found it open in the early hours of the morning. The report pack states:

''As per our visit last night at 01:47hrs, you were observed to be operating in the rear area where patrons were using shisha and had open beer bottles on their tables. You also had an open box of 'Madri' beers behind your coffee station.

You were also observed to playing music in the rear area, which you do not have a licence to offer regulated entertainment.

You stated you had a TENS for this weekend but couldn't produce this when I asked. On returning to the office, you applied for a TENS for the weekend 2nd 4thAugust 2025. You stated you believe you applied for a TENS for 7 days and you can use these days as you see fit. I'm under the impression you meant that if you didn't use all the days from the weekend 2ndto the 4ththat you can then use it for other days. This is incorrect and you're operating without a licence.

You stated that it was a birthday party and a private event, but we witnessed people trying to gain access to the premises. You had a blackout blind on the front of the shop to appear closed.''

A noise abatement notice was issued, and a written warning was sent to the operator about undertaking licensable activity without authorisation.

The police raised concerns that the business was playing loud music until late, disturbing residents. An earlier application for a premises licence was rejected because the plan submitted did not show the shisha area.

Representations

Ash Shah, a Trading Standards Specialist, requested that the applicant add several conditions to the licence to protect children from harm, including:

• Adopting a Challenge 25 policy³.
• Keeping a written record of all staff authorised to sell alcohol.
• Ensuring staff receive adequate training on the law regarding age-restricted products.
• Maintaining a register of refused sales of age-restricted products.
• Ensuring children under 16 are accompanied by an adult.
• Requesting recognised photographic identification from anyone appearing under 25 attempting to purchase alcohol or receive a delivery.
• Ensuring a personal licence holder is present at the premises at all times during licensing hours.
• Maintaining documented delegation of authorisations to sell alcohol at the premises.
• Prohibiting promotional sales of alcohol where it is sold at a lower price than usual.
• Displaying prominent signage indicating the permitted hours for the sale of alcohol.

Craig Bellringer, a Senior Noise and Nuisance Officer, represented that the Noise and Nuisance service had issued an abatement notice to the premises on 17 August 2025, after officers observed loud music within a resident's property. Mr Bellringer stated that officers were initially denied entry to the premises, where they found a rear shisha area with beer bottles and alcohol stored behind the counter, and a speaker playing music. Mr Bellringer did not believe that the business and the designated premises supervisor would be able to uphold the four licensing objectives⁴ and adhere to any conditions, and that it would be difficult to conduct licensing visits due to access issues. Mr Bellringer's representation was to reject the application for a new premises licence.

PC Costache, a North Area Licensing Officer, stated that police did not agree with the suggested timings for the licence, as there are residential properties above the premises and allowing it to remain open until 02:00 or 04:00 could increase public nuisance and crime and disorder. PC Costache suggested reduced hours and requested that several conditions be added to the operating schedule, including:

• Installing a digital CCTV system.
• Maintaining an incident log.
• Stopping serving alcohol 30 minutes before closing.
• Training staff in requesting customers to leave respectfully.
• Displaying a clear notice outside indicating operating hours and warning of potential criminal activity.
• Ensuring staff are vigilant of illegal drugs.
• Complying with specific conditions on football match days, concerts, and events, such as not opening for the sale of alcohol before 11:00 on Saturdays and Sundays, pouring drinks into plastic containers two hours before kick-off until one hour after the match, and hiring a minimum of two SIA⁵ security staff.
• Observing fire safety regulations and storing alcohol appropriately.
• Training staff in the use of fire extinguishers.
• Having a first aid kit on the premises.
• Displaying notices requesting patrons to respect residents and leave quietly.
• Barring noisy customers.
• Limiting the number of patrons outside the premises to three.
• Carrying out deliveries in a manner to prevent nuisance.
• Ensuring staff arriving early or departing late avoid causing disturbance.
• Not admitting customers outside of operating hours.
• Concluding licensable activity 30 minutes before closing.
• Not selling alcohol to intoxicated individuals.
• Making suitable non-alcoholic beverages available.
• Not allowing customers to leave with glass or plastic cups of alcohol or consume alcohol on the public highway.
• Operating the 'Challenge 25' proof of age scheme.
• Documenting all training relating to the sale of alcohol and keeping records at the premises.
• Maintaining a written record of refused sales.

Applicant's Response

In response to the police representation, the applicant, Andebrhan Tekeste, stated that the permitted operating hours should not be directly linked to the size of the premises, and that the smaller nature of Lily White Sandwich Bar would allow for easier management and better supervision. Mr Tekeste also claimed that the alleged noise complaint referenced by the police did not occur as described, and that an officer attended at the time in question and confirmed that there was no disturbance. Mr Tekeste stated that he had accepted all conditions proposed by the police and was committed to working with the authorities and upholding all four licensing objectives.

PC Costache responded that the police stance regarding the opening hours remained, and that the police had evaluated the size of Lily White Sandwich Bar compared to other businesses in the area. PC Costache also stated that various police systems had been checked to ascertain the levels of anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance complaint calls made to police.

In a formal representation responding to the Licensing Officer's report, Mr Tekeste challenged the accuracy and fairness of the observations made during the visit to his premises. He raised concerns about inconsistencies in the reported visit time, the conduct of officers during the initial visit, the assumption that alcohol was intended for use during another event, the assertion that regulated entertainment was taking place, and the claim that patrons were observed with beer bottles on their tables. Mr Tekeste also clarified that the event in question was a private birthday celebration and that the blackout blind was a permanent fixture for privacy.

Mr Tekeste stated that he was implementing voluntary measures to reinforce his commitment to upholding the licensing objectives, including introducing a written internal compliance checklist, providing staff with refresher training, keeping clear records of all event documentation, and liaising proactively with the Licensing Team before hosting any event.