The Licensing Sub-Committee of Havering Council met on Thursday 09 April 2026 to conduct an expedited review of the premises licence for The Chequers, located at 121 North Street, Hornchurch. The committee decided to suspend the licence for four weeks, remove the Designated Premises Supervisor, and impose a series of new conditions to promote the licensing objectives.

Review of The Chequers Premises Licence

The meeting considered an application for an expedited review of the premises licence for The Chequers, following an incident of violent disorder on the night of 11-12 March 2026. The police contended that the disorder, which involved multiple individuals, was exacerbated by licensing failures, including operating outside of licensed hours and a lack of SIA-licensed door staff.

Key discussions and decisions included:

• Violent Disorder and Licensing Failures: The subcommittee heard that the incident involved significant violence, with punches, kicks, and the use of chairs. The premises failed to call the police, did not record the incident in their logbook, and appeared to be operating outside of their licensed hours, as evidenced by CCTV footage and till receipts. The Local Authority Designated Officer, Lisa Kennedy, also raised concerns about the lack of appropriate medical assistance and general safeguarding practices.
• Police Representation: Police Sergeant Chris Stockman, represented by Mr. Ed Gehry, presented evidence of the disorder and the subsequent licensing failures. They argued that the premises' poor management and breaches of conditions created a risk of further serious crime and disorder. The police recommended the suspension of the licence as an interim step.
• Licensing Authority Representation: Oisin Daly, representing the Licensing Authority, supported the police's application, highlighting the repeated breaches of licensing hours and the creation of a culture of after-hours drinking. He presented till receipts as evidence of these breaches.
• License Holder's Representation: Mr. Duncan Craig, barrister for the licence holder, Mr. Jagtar Sandhu, and his son, Mr. Pavindajit Sandhu, argued for proportionality. He highlighted the premises' 20-year history without a previous review and suggested that many of the existing licence conditions were outdated and unenforceable. Mr. Graham Hopkinson, a licensing consultant, also spoke in support of the family, vouching for their integrity and commitment to operating responsibly.
• Proposed Conditions and Modifications: The licence holder's representatives proposed a comprehensive set of new conditions, including requirements for CCTV, an incident log, staff training, a zero-tolerance policy on drugs, a vulnerability policy, and specific measures for high-profile football events requiring SIA door staff. They also agreed to a condition that no children would be allowed on the premises after 7:00 PM.
• Decision: The subcommittee decided to suspend the licence for four weeks. They also removed the Designated Premises Supervisor, Mr. Jagtar Sandhu, due to his ill health and the need for new management. A series of new conditions were imposed, including those related to CCTV, incident logging, staff training, and specific measures for events like football matches. The decision also included conditions concerning WAVE (Women Against Violence Europe) and Ask for Angela schemes, and the requirement for CCTV to cover both entrances and glasses. The interim steps imposed following the expedited hearing on 17 March 2026 were replaced by this decision.

The full written reasons for the decision and the details of the imposed conditions will be sent to all parties within five working days. Any party with a relevant representation may appeal to the magistrate's court within 21 days of notification of the decision.