The Licensing Sub-Committee of Redbridge Council met on Wednesday 19 August 2026 to consider an application to vary a premises licence for GDK, a fast-casual restaurant and takeaway. The primary focus of the meeting was to discuss the proposed extension of licensing hours for late-night refreshment.

Application to Vary Premises Licence for GDK

The meeting was scheduled to discuss an application from HGJ Foods Ltd, the licence holder for GDK, located at 1201-1203 High Road, Chadwell Heath, RM6 4AL, to vary its premises licence. The proposed variation sought to extend the hours for late-night refreshment.

Currently, the premises is licensed for late-night refreshment from 23:00 to 00:00 on Sundays to Thursdays, and from 23:00 to 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The proposed variation would extend these hours to 03:00 every day of the week. While the premises would remain open to the public until 23:00 for dine-in, takeaway, and delivery, after this time, only takeaway and delivery services would be available until the proposed new terminal hour.

Representations were received from two responsible authorities: the Council's Licensing Enforcement Team and the Metropolitan Police. Both raised concerns that the proposed extension of hours could undermine the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance.

The Metropolitan Police, represented by PC Chris Stockman, noted that while the premises does not sell alcohol, late-night food establishments can become focal points for individuals leaving other licensed venues, potentially leading to disorder, anti-social behaviour, and noise. They expressed concern that extending the hours would increase the risk of disturbance to nearby residents, particularly given the mixed commercial and residential nature of the area. The Police suggested that deliveries could potentially be managed from the rear of the premises via Pavement Mews to mitigate some of these concerns, a proposal that was not deemed practical by the applicant.

The Licensing Enforcement Team, represented by Priya Cheema, echoed these concerns, highlighting the proximity of GDK to other licensed venues such as the Eva Heart Pub and Mayfair venue. They argued that intoxicated patrons from these venues could be attracted to GDK, leading to noise, anti-social behaviour, and potential violence. The team also raised concerns about noise from delivery drivers and customer vehicles, especially as there is no dedicated parking, potentially leading to illegal parking and disturbance to residents living above the commercial properties. They stated that the applicant had not provided sufficient detail on how these issues would be mitigated.

The report pack outlined the procedure for licensing hearings, which would involve the applicant presenting their case, followed by representations from responsible authorities, and then summing up. The Sub-Committee was presented with several options for decision, including granting the application in whole or in part, with or without modifications to the conditions, or rejecting the application entirely. The decision was to be communicated to the parties within five working days.

The report also detailed the legal implications under the Human Rights Act 1998, financial implications (none for the Council), and fairness and equality considerations. It referenced the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy¹, which provides guidance on licensing hours and the expectation for applicants seeking to operate outside framework hours to volunteer robust conditions.