The Licensing Sub-Committee of Havering Council decided to refuse an application for a premises licence for King of Wings, located at 57 High Street, Hornchurch. The decision was made due to concerns that granting the licence would undermine the licensing objectives, particularly in relation to the cumulative impact policy for the Hornchurch area.

Application for a Premises Licence - King of Wings

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application for a premises licence for King of Wings, a takeaway chicken restaurant at 57 High Street, Hornchurch, RM11 1TP. The applicant, Raztina Ltd, sought to provide late-night refreshment seven days a week from 11:00 PM to 3:00 AM.

Representations against the application were received from three responsible authorities: the Metropolitan Police, Havering's Environmental Health and Protection team, and Havering's Licensing Authority. No representations were received from local residents or businesses.

The primary concerns raised by the responsible authorities centred on the premises' location within the Hornchurch Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ). Havering's licensing policy states a rebuttable presumption that applications adding to the existing cumulative impact in such zones will normally be refused unless the applicant can demonstrate that the operation will not adversely impact the promotion of licensing objectives.

The Metropolitan Police argued that extending the hours to 3:00 AM would likely lead to intoxicated individuals loitering, causing noise, unrest, and increasing the risk of crime, disorder, and public nuisance. PC Ellis Grote stated, On the balance of probability, having a venue open until 0300hrs and being attended by intoxicated members of the public, this will increase the risk to public safety and crime and disorder.

George Pater, Team Leader for Environmental Health, echoed these concerns, noting that the requested hours were significantly beyond the council's policy recommendations for takeaway premises, which suggest terminal hours of midnight from Sunday to Thursday and 1:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays. He highlighted a lack of specific measures to manage customer noise, delivery driver activity, or noise from the premises' extraction system during the extended hours.

Oisin Daly from the Licensing Authority emphasised that the applicant had not provided sufficient evidence to rebut the presumption of refusal within the CIZ. He pointed out that the applicant's proposed measures, such as signage encouraging customers to leave quietly, were considered standard and not exceptional enough to mitigate the potential impact. Mr. Daly also noted that the applicant had not engaged with responsible authorities during the consultation period.

Aminur Razzi, manager of King of Wings, explained that the extended hours were sought to compete with nearby pubs and clubs that operate late. He stated that staff would be trained to de-escalate situations and that CCTV would be in operation. He also mentioned the possibility of employing SIA licensed door supervisors if deemed necessary. However, when questioned about the licensing objectives, Mr. Razzi struggled to articulate them clearly.

The Sub-Committee found that the applicant did not fully understand the licensing regime, the importance of the operating schedule, or the council's licensing policy. They concluded that granting the licence, even with modifications, would undermine the licensing objectives. The applicant's failure to engage with responsible authorities and provide robust, enforceable conditions led the Sub-Committee to refuse the application. The decision was communicated by the legal advisor, who stated that the reasons for refusal would be detailed in a written letter, and that the applicant had the right to appeal to the Magistrates' Court within 21 days.