The Licensing Sub Committee D of Lewisham Council met on Thursday 23 July 2026 to consider a review of the premises licence for House of Flavours, located at Unit A, 31 Perry Vale, London SE23 2AR. After hearing representations from the Licensing Authority, residents, the Metropolitan Police, and the premises licence holder, the committee decided to impose additional conditions on the licence to promote the licensing objectives.

Review of Premises Licence for House of Flavours

The committee considered a review application for the premises licence of House of Flavours, submitted by the Licensing Authority. The review was brought on the grounds that the premises' operation had undermined the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the prevention of public nuisance.

Background to the Review: The Licensing Authority received numerous complaints from local residents concerning noise disturbance, anti-social behaviour, and disorder associated with the premises. These complaints escalated following two specific incidents: a disorder incident outside the premises on 21 May 2026, which required a significant emergency service response, and complaints of excessive noise from music on 24 May 2026.

Prior to the review application, licensing officers had engaged with the premises on over ten occasions to address noise concerns, but statutory nuisance was not witnessed during these visits. However, the volume and consistency of resident complaints, supported by video evidence, indicated an ongoing impact.

Representations in support of the review were received from the Metropolitan Police Service and 28 members of the public. Conversely, 21 representations were received objecting to the review.

Arguments Presented:

• Licensing Authority (Angela Moulin-Morale, Safer Communities Officer): Ms. Moulin-Morale stated that while the premises licence holder had been cooperative and implemented requested measures, complaints had continued. She highlighted the disorder incident on 21 May and the excessive music levels on 24 May as key factors that met the threshold for a review. The Licensing Authority was not seeking revocation or a reduction in hours but proposed additional conditions to strengthen security, noise management, event management, CCTV operation, and customer dispersal.

• Residents (Representing CityWalk Apartments Residents Association): Multiple residents spoke about the significant negative impact the premises had on their quality of life. Key concerns included:

  • Noise: Excessive bass and music audible within their homes, even with windows closed, leading to sleep disturbance and impacting mental health.
  • Anti-social behaviour and Crime: Disorderly conduct, shouting, aggressive behaviour, and a general sense of the area becoming unsafe, particularly after dark. The incident on 21 May, involving a significant police and ambulance response, was a major concern.
  • Public Safety: Illegal parking causing congestion and obstructing access, particularly for emergency services.
  • Public Nuisance: Litter, overflowing bins, and the smell of cannabis in communal areas and near residential windows.
  • Change in Character: Residents argued that the premises had transformed from a restaurant to an entertainment venue, which was incompatible with its location within a residential building. They noted that previous restaurant tenants had not caused similar issues.

• Premises Licence Holder (Ebony Reid, Manager): Ms. Reid apologised for the incidents on 21 and 24 May, attributing the disorder on the 21st to a domestic family incident and the noise on the 24th to poor judgment regarding a DJ's speaker. She stated that new measures had been implemented, including no longer accepting large bookings, ceasing bottomless brunch promotions, maintaining an incident book, using CCTV, providing conflict management training, and employing security on event nights. She acknowledged parking and cannabis use as concerns but argued they were outside the premises' direct control, and that noise levels had not been found to be a statutory nuisance during council visits. The licence holder stressed that restricting hours would have a devastating impact on the business.

• Representations Against the Review: Several individuals and businesses spoke in support of House of Flavours, praising its food, atmosphere, and contribution to the local community's diversity and economy. They highlighted the owners' hard work as single mothers and their positive impact on creating employment and a welcoming environment. Some suggested that complaints might be racially motivated or based on unrealistic expectations of complete silence in a mixed-use area. A local wholesaler noted increased business due to House of Flavours' success.

Decision: The Licensing Sub Committee D decided to impose the conditions suggested by the police, along with three additional conditions:

1. The production of a written event management plan.
2. Refusal of re-entry for any person who has left the premises to smoke cannabis.
3. The implementation of a formal written dispersal policy.

A decision notice detailing the reasons for this decision will be issued within five working days.