The Licensing Sub-Committee (4) of Westminster Council was scheduled to consider an application for an expedited review of the premises licence for Food Works, located at 51 Strutton Ground, London, SW1P 2HY. The meeting's agenda also included standard procedural items.

Food Works, 51 Strutton Ground, London, SW1P 2HY

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for an expedited review of the premises licence for Food Works, located at 51 Strutton Ground, London, SW1P 2HY. This review was initiated by the Metropolitan Police Service on 13 March 2026, under Section 53A of the Licensing Act 2003, due to concerns that the premises were associated with serious crime or serious disorder.

The report pack detailed an incident on 17 February 2026, where officers responded to reports of a male being attacked in the street. The victim alleged he had been assaulted by an individual from the kebab shop, identified as Food Works. Subsequent investigations, including the review of local council CCTV footage, reportedly showed an unprovoked assault on the victim, involving a metal bar or crutch. The victim sustained injuries requiring hospital treatment, and the investigation was ongoing.

Furthermore, the report highlighted alleged breaches of the premises licence conditions, specifically concerning the operation and integrity of the CCTV system. Police licensing officers reported that staff at Food Works initially claimed the CCTV was broken, but upon inspection, the system was found to be operational, though it only recorded footage from the day after the alleged assault. The police noted that no evidence of repair arrangements was provided.

The Metropolitan Police requested that the premises licence be suspended pending a full review, citing the seriousness of the assault, the alleged breach of CCTV conditions, and the perceived inability of the premises to uphold licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance.

The report outlined potential interim steps the Sub-Committee could consider, including modifying licence conditions, excluding the sale of alcohol, removing the designated premises supervisor, or suspending the licence. It was noted that due to the statutory requirement for an interim hearing within 48 hours of the application, it had not been possible for the premises licence holder, Mr. Yilmaz Akcadag, to submit a formal response prior to the publication of the report. Any submissions from the licence holder were to be provided to the committee in advance of the hearing.

The meeting was scheduled to consider the report and any evidence presented to determine necessary interim steps to promote the licensing objectives. The report also referenced the City of Westminster's Statement of Licensing Policy, effective from October 2021, and guidance issued by the Secretary of State under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, published in December 2023. The core hours for various licensable activities, as set out in the council's policy, were also provided for context.