The Licensing Sub-Committee granted a new premises licence for Bajaj Food & Wine, located at 9 Kathleen Avenue, Acton, W3 0NG. The decision was made after considering an application, representations from a member of the public, and the applicant's operating schedule.

Application for a New Premises Licence for Bajaj Food & Wine

The Sub-Committee granted the application for a new premises licence for Bajaj Food & Wine, located at 9 Kathleen Avenue, Acton, W3 0NG. The decision was made after considering the application, the Licensing Act 2003, the section 182 Guidance, the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy, and representations from an interested party.

An objection was received from Michelle Doyle, a local resident, who raised concerns regarding anti-social behaviour, public nuisance, public drinking, littering, disturbance, and the residential nature of the area. Ms. Doyle's representation highlighted existing issues in the locality and expressed concern that granting the licence would exacerbate these problems, particularly with the proposed hours extending until 11:00 PM on weekdays and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. She also noted the presence of numerous other licensed premises in the vicinity.

However, the Sub-Committee was not satisfied that the evidence presented demonstrated that granting the application would be likely to undermine the licensing objectives. They noted that the premises was vacant at the time of the hearing and that there was no evidence of poor management by the applicant. The Sub-Committee also took into account the applicant's experience operating other businesses within the borough, his understanding of the licensing objectives, and the measures outlined in the operating schedule. These measures included staff training, incident and refusal records, customer notices, and controls to minimise public nuisance and manage the area immediately outside the premises. Crucially, no responsible authorities, such as the Police or Environmental Health, objected to the application.

The Sub-Committee concluded that the mandatory conditions and the applicant's operating schedule were sufficient to promote the licensing objectives, and that further restrictions would not be appropriate or proportionate. Therefore, the licence was granted as applied for, subject to the mandatory conditions and the conditions consistent with the applicant's operating schedule. No additional conditions were imposed.

The applicant's representative, Ms. Cor, highlighted Mr. Satpal Singh Bajaj's extensive experience in managing licensed and regulated businesses since 2012, including off-licences and restaurants. She emphasised his understanding of regulatory compliance, including procedures to prevent money laundering and ensure proper record-keeping, as well as his experience with food hygiene, health and safety, and the responsible sale of alcohol. Ms. Cor also pointed out that the proposed operating schedule included measures such as a please leave quietly poster, staff training, CCTV, and a commitment to maintaining a clean and tidy external area.

During the hearing, Councillor Anthony Kelly sought clarification on who else would be working at the premises, given the need to uphold licensing objectives. Mr. Satpal Singh Bajaj confirmed he would hire four to five responsible people and would be present daily as it was a new venture. Councillor Praveen Anand also inquired about Mr. Bajaj's other business commitments and his role as Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). Mr. Bajaj stated that this would be his sole business as DPS and that his other businesses in Ealing, Giani Journalist Limited and Lovers of Spices, were managed by staff and managers. He also confirmed he would be responsible for staff training.

An attempt was made to allow Kyle Doyle, who claimed to be representing a resident, into the hearing. However, it was clarified that the objector was Michelle Doyle, and as Kyle Doyle was not the registered objector, he was asked to leave the hearing and watch the proceedings via the live stream.