The Licensing Sub-Committee of Tower Hamlets Council met on Tuesday 24 March 2026 to consider two applications for new premises licences. The committee granted a licence for Kong is Kong at 14 Norton Folgate, London E1 6DB, with conditions, and refused the application for 5 Akhis Whitechapel at 42 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JX.

Kong is Kong, 14 Norton Folgate, London E1 6DB

The committee granted a new premises licence for Kong is Kong, located at 14 Norton Folgate, London E1 6DB, with several conditions. The application was for a restaurant and drinking establishment, replacing the former Water Poet pub. Concerns were raised by the Licensing Authority and Environmental Protection regarding the potential for public nuisance and the premises' location within the Brick Lane Cumulative Impact Area (CIA).

Arguments for the application:

• The applicant, represented by Alan Thomas, argued that the application was not for a new use but a replacement for the previous Water Poet pub, which had a surrendered licence.
• They contended that the new premises would be a less intense use than the previous pub, with a significantly reduced area for vertical drinking and a greater emphasis on seated dining.
• The entrance and exit for customers would be on Norton Folgate, away from residential properties on Folgate Street, which was seen as a positive change for dispersal.
• The planning permission for the site required the retention of a public house use, including an area for drinking without food.
• Local engagement had resulted in withdrawn objections from residents, and support from local organisations like Spitalfields Residents Against Anti-Social Behaviour (SPIRE).

Arguments against the application:

• The Licensing Authority, represented by Mohsin Ali, expressed concern that the premises was larger than the previous Water Poet and that the exception for a surrendered licence might not apply. They also raised concerns about access and egress impacting residential areas.
• Nicola Cadzow from Environmental Protection was concerned about noise breakout from the external area and the applicant's refusal to agree to reduced hours for external seating and smoking areas. She requested the application be refused due to the lack of agreement on conditions related to the external area.

Decision and Conditions: The committee granted the licence with conditions. These included:

• The sale of alcohol would primarily be by waiter/waitress service to seated persons, except for a designated area edged blue on the plan.
• A comprehensive CCTV system would be installed and maintained, with recordings stored for 31 days and available to the police.
• An incident log would be kept and made available to the police or authorised officers.
• Notices would be displayed at exits requesting patrons to leave quietly.
• A Challenge 25 proof of age scheme would be operated.
• All windows and external doors would be kept closed after 23:00 hours, except for immediate access and egress.
• Deliveries to Folgate Street or Blossom Street would be restricted to specific hours and routes.
• Patrons temporarily leaving the premises for smoking would not be permitted to take glass containers outside, and the number of such patrons would be limited after 21:00 hours.
• All outside tables and chairs would be rendered unusable by 23:00 hours.
• No noise or vibration would emanate from the premises causing a nuisance.
• Off-sales of alcohol would be in sealed containers only.

5 Akhis Whitechapel, 42 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JX

The committee refused the application for a new premises licence for 5 Akhis Whitechapel, located at 42 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1JX, which falls within the Brick Lane Cumulative Impact Area (CIA). The application sought late-night refreshment hours until 02:00 daily.

Arguments for the application:

• The applicant, Kazi Foyzul Islam, was represented by Patisserie East Ltd. The application proposed operating within framework hours for the sale of alcohol, but sought extended hours for late-night refreshment.

Arguments against the application:

• The Licensing Authority, represented by Mohsin Ali, raised concerns about the proposed hours extending significantly beyond the council's framework hours, potentially increasing late-night disturbance. They also noted the premises' location within the CIA and the lack of specific mitigation measures to address cumulative impact.
• Environmental Protection, represented by Nicola Cadzow, objected due to the late hours sought, the premises being within the CIA, and the operating schedule lacking sufficient detail on dispersal, noise management, and specific mitigation for late hours. They recommended refusal or a reduction in hours closer to framework hours.
• A key concern was that the applicant was already advertising operating hours until 02:00, despite not yet being licensed.
• The applicant did not attend the hearing, which was noted as a concern by the committee.

Decision: The committee refused the application. The primary reasons for refusal were the proposed hours extending significantly beyond the council's framework hours, the premises being located within the Brick Lane CIA without sufficient demonstration of exceptional circumstances to rebut the presumption of refusal, and the operating schedule lacking the necessary detail to demonstrate how the licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of public nuisance, would be promoted. The applicant's failure to attend the hearing was also a factor.

Other Matters

The committee also noted several applications for extensions of decision deadlines for licensing applications, agreeing to extend them to July 31st, 2026. These included applications for Greens and Grains, PFC, A Fresh Feast, Unit 5 Skylines Village, Cafe La Vista, The Original Crispy Cod, Holy Carrots, Lebanese Grill, Chicken Cottage, and Fresco Casino.