The Licensing Sub-Committee of Redbridge Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 17 June 2026, was set to discuss a proposed variation to the premises licence for Ali Curry House and to review the procedure for licensing hearings.

Procedure for Licensing Hearings

The committee was to be briefed on the established procedure for conducting licensing hearings. This procedure outlines the steps to be followed, including the presentation of cases by applicants and responsible authorities, questioning of witnesses, and the order of summing up before the sub-committee retires to make a decision.

Application to Vary Premises Licence: Ali Curry House

The meeting agenda included consideration of an application to vary the premises licence for Ali Curry House, located at 303 High Road, Ilford, IG1 1NR. The application, submitted by Mr Khurram Shahzad, sought to extend the hours for late-night refreshment from 23:00 to 05:00 daily, and to allow the premises to be open to the public 24 hours a day. Additionally, the applicant proposed to remove all existing licence conditions and replace them with a new set of conditions.

The report pack indicated that this application had generated representations from several Responsible Authorities ¹, including the Metropolitan Police Service Licensing Team, the London Borough of Redbridge Licensing Enforcement Team, the Community Protection Task Force, and the Public Health Team. These representations raised concerns that the proposed variation could undermine the licensing objectives, specifically the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the prevention of public nuisance.

The premises is situated within the Ilford Town Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ)², a designated area where there is a presumption against granting new licences or variations that could exacerbate cumulative impact. The report pack detailed the council's policy on CIZs, which requires applicants to demonstrate exceptional circumstances to show that their application will not add to the cumulative impact.

The report also outlined the legal implications, financial considerations, and fairness implications, including equality and diversity, related to the application. The committee was to be presented with several options for determination, including granting the application in whole or in part, modifying conditions, or rejecting the application entirely.

The report pack included appendices detailing the full variation application, the current premises licence, maps and street views of the premises, and the specific representations made by the Metropolitan Police, the Licensing Enforcement Team, the Public Health Team, and the Community Protection Task Force. The Public Health Team's representation highlighted concerns regarding the health implications of late-night food consumption, particularly in relation to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, especially within a deprived area with a high proportion of young residents. The Community Protection Taskforce raised concerns about potential noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour, noting that the premises had recently been found to be trading beyond its permitted hours.