The Licensing Sub-Committee of Havering Council convened on Thursday 09 April 2026 to conduct an expedited review of the premises licence for The Chequers, located at 121 North Street, Hornchurch. Following a serious incident of violent disorder and evidence of repeated licensing failures, the committee decided to suspend the licence for four weeks and impose a comprehensive set of new conditions.

Review of The Chequers Premises Licence

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application for an expedited review of the premises licence for The Chequers, following an incident of violent disorder that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday 11 March 2026. The police contended that this incident, coupled with further licensing failures, necessitated the review.

The committee heard evidence from various parties, including the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), the Council's Licensing Team (CLT), and the premises' representatives. The MPS presented CCTV footage depicting significant violent disorder involving approximately ten individuals, including the use of a thrown chair and kicks to a person on the floor. Concerns were raised about the premises' management, including the absence of SIA-licensed door staff, the failure to contact the police immediately, and the lack of an entry in the incident logbook.

The CLT supported the police's application, presenting evidence from till receipts suggesting habitual operation beyond licensable hours and the sale of alcohol after closing time. This was argued to have created a culture of afterhours drinking and potentially contributed to the violent incident. Lisa Kennedy, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), also supported the review, highlighting safeguarding concerns for children who may attend the premises, given the identified management and operational failings.

The premises' representatives, including counsel Duncan Craig and the new licence holder, Parvinder Sandhu, acknowledged failings, particularly regarding operating beyond licensable hours on the night of the incident. They explained that the previous licence holder, Jagtar Sandhu (Parvinder Sandhu's father), had been unwell, leading to a decision to transfer the licence. They highlighted Parvinder Sandhu's previous experience running pubs and the positive contributions of Danielle Cassar, the proposed new Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). The defence proposed a revised set of conditions, aiming to create a more robust and enforceable framework for the licence.

After careful deliberation, the Licensing Sub-Committee determined that the premises licence should be suspended for a period of four weeks. This suspension was deemed necessary and proportionate to address the causes of concern and provide time for the premises' operators to implement new policies and staff training. The committee also decided to modify the licence by imposing a comprehensive set of new conditions, which will supersede the existing ones. These conditions include stringent requirements for CCTV operation and maintenance, an incident log, staff training, immediate reporting of crime and disorder, the implementation of various policies (including drugs, safeguarding, noise management, and security), the use of toughened glasses, clear signage regarding noise, the 'Challenge 25' proof of age scheme, and restrictions on children's access after 7 pm. The removal of the previous DPS was also confirmed, with the new DPS to be subject to the updated conditions and training. The committee noted that while revocation was considered, the suspension and imposition of new conditions were deemed the most appropriate and proportionate steps to promote the licensing objectives and prevent future failings.