The Licensing Sub-Committee of Redbridge Council met on Tuesday 22 September 2026 to consider an application for a new premises licence. The primary focus of the meeting was the application for BIGYS, located at 314 Ilford Lane, Ilford, IG1 2LR, to provide late-night refreshment.

Application for a New Premises Licence: BIGYS

The meeting was scheduled to discuss an application for a new premises licence for BIGYS, a fast-food restaurant and takeaway located at 314 Ilford Lane, Ilford, IG1 2LR. The applicant, SHARPTHORNE VENTURES LTD, trading as Bigys, sought to enable the licensable activity of late-night refreshment.

The application proposed operating hours from Monday to Sunday, 23:00 to 02:00 for late-night refreshment, with the premises open to the public from 11:00 to 02:00. Seasonal variations were also requested, allowing for extended hours until 05:00 during Ramadan and Eid. No alcohol would be supplied on the premises.

The report pack indicated that the application had received objections from four responsible authorities: the Metropolitan Police Licensing Team, the Council's Licensing Enforcement Team, the Community Protection Task Force, and Public Health. These objections were based on concerns that the application could negatively impact the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. Additionally, ten objections were lodged by interested parties, raising concerns that all four licensing objectives might be negatively impacted.

The premises is situated within the Ilford Town Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ), an area where a rebuttable presumption exists to refuse licence applications that could add to cumulative impact. The report pack outlined the procedure for licensing hearings, which would involve the presentation of the case by the applicant, responsible authorities, and interested parties, followed by summing up and a private decision by the Sub-Committee.

The report pack also detailed the licensing objectives as set out in the Licensing Act 2003: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. It referenced the Statutory Guidance issued by the Home Office and the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy, highlighting specific considerations for each objective, including conditions that could be added to licences to address concerns.

The report pack included representations from various responsible authorities and interested parties. The Metropolitan Police raised concerns about the proposed hours being too late for the locality, citing historical issues of violence and anti-social behaviour at the premises. The Council's Licensing Enforcement Team and Community Protection Task Force also objected, detailing numerous issues including littering, noise, large queues, anti-social behaviour, and violent incidents, and highlighting the premises' location within the CIZ and a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) area. Public Health submitted a representation focusing on the health risks associated with late-night fast-food consumption, particularly in relation to obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, and the impact on children's health. Several individual residents also submitted objections, echoing concerns about crime and disorder, public nuisance, public safety, and the protection of children from harm, citing issues such as litter, noise, traffic congestion, and anti-social behaviour.

The report pack also contained the application form for the premises licence, detailing the applicant's business and premises information, the operating schedule outlining steps to promote the licensing objectives, and notes on entitlement to work in the UK. Appendices included the application details, premises layout plan, Google Maps views, and copies of the representations received.

The Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider the application and make a decision on whether to grant, grant with conditions, grant in part, or reject the application, in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003.