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Licensing Sub Committee - Tuesday, 12th November, 2024 6.30 p.m.

November 12, 2024 View on council website Watch video of meeting
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Summary

The Licensing Sub Committee met to consider two applications but did not make any decisions. One application was deferred to allow the applicant to better prepare, and the other will be decided upon within five working days.

Application for ZNH One Rice Ltd, 46 Brick Lane E1 6RF

The meeting considered an application for a new premises licence for ZNH One Rice Ltd at 46 Brick Lane. The applicant, Zing Zhao Hu, wishes to operate the premises as a restaurant, and was seeking permission to sell late night refreshment from 11pm to 4am, seven days a week. The Metropolitan Police made a representation to the committee, and as a result, Mr Zhao Hu agreed to reduce these hours to:

  • Sunday - Thursday 7pm - midnight.
  • Friday & Saturday 7pm - 1am.

The committee noted that the premises is within the Brick Lane Cumulative Impact Area1

and that Mr Zhao Hu seemed to be unaware of this, or the implications of it for his application. After a brief adjournment, the applicant requested an adjournment to allow him time to prepare and the committee agreed to this. The application will be reconsidered on 12 December 2024.

Application for Bourbon, Kisses from Nona, 387 Roman Road E3 5QR

The meeting considered an application from Mr Dominic Gibson and Mr Gareth Jones for a variation of the premises licence for Bourbon, Kisses from Nona at 387 Roman Road. The applicants were seeking to extend the hours for the sale of alcohol and the playing of recorded music on Friday and Saturday by one hour to midnight, and to add 'late night refreshment' to their licence.

Four objections to the application were received by the committee, one from a responsible authority and three from 'other persons'.

Environmental Health Objection

The council's Environmental Health Officer objected to the application on the grounds that the existing licence does not include sufficient conditions restricting noise from the venue. The officer stated that, in their view, allowing the playing of music after 11pm was likely to lead to noise nuisance to local residents.

The applicant's representative, Mr Paul Greenoe, argued that the Environmental Health Officer had not provided any evidence that noise nuisance is a problem at the venue, stating:

The premises has been operating for a number of years. The environment health officer hasn’t actually mentioned that they have received any complaints at all regarding the operation of the premises.

Mr Greenoe went on to argue that a condition suggested by the EHO, that 'no noise shall emanate from the premises... which gives rise to a public nuisance', should not be attached to the licence as it was too vague.

Mr Amit Patel's Objection

Mr Greenoe described the objection from Mr Amit Patel, who lives in a flat above the venue, as 'vexatious'. He told the committee that Mr Patel had only moved into the flat recently, and that his primary motivation was not to prevent noise nuisance, but to support an application made by his father, the freeholder of the building, to increase the rent on the property. He said:

Clearly what he is looking for is a decision from yourselves to say, no, we consider this premises to be a bar, not a restaurant, which will then be used by the landlord to say we want to increase Mr Gibson’s rent. The licensing subcommittee should not be used for that purpose.

Other Objections

One other objection, from a neighbouring business, was received. The committee noted that the premises where the objector lives are some distance from the application site. A further objection was received from an individual who lives in Daring House, opposite the venue. No further details were provided.

Applicant and Supporter Statements

Speaking on behalf of the applicants, Mr Gibson said that the venue was a:

laid-back, stateside style diner, where we’ve got burgers, buffalo wings, all-American products from American—excuse me—beer, wine, because I’m trying to create a piece of America in East London.

Mr Ben Preble, a local resident, spoke in support of the application. He said:

So what I said before that there’s never been any kind of trouble there of any kind. So you can’t reduce something that doesn’t already exist, that doesn’t exist in the first place. It’s a kind of moot point, right? The restaurant is peaceful, quiet, calm and a great benefit to the local residents.

Decision

During their deliberations, the committee queried whether the application to extend the hours for 'regulated entertainment' was necessary, as the applicants had confirmed that they only played recorded background music at the venue. Mr Greenoe confirmed that the applicant was happy to withdraw that aspect of their application. The committee will make a decision on the remaining aspects of the application for an extension of the hours for the sale of alcohol and the addition of late night refreshment to the licence within five working days.


  1. Cumulative Impact Areas are areas in which the council has decided that applications for new premises licences will be subject to stricter rules because of the density of existing licensed premises. In Tower Hamlets, a Cumulative Impact Area is in force in Brick Lane and the surrounding streets. 

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor Ana Miah
Councillor Ana Miah  Chair of Pensions Committee •  Aspire •  Shadwell
Profile image for Councillor Suluk Ahmed
Councillor Suluk Ahmed  Aspire •  Spitalfields & Banglatown
Profile image for Councillor Ahmodul Kabir
Councillor Ahmodul Kabir  Aspire •  Bethnal Green East
Profile image for Councillor Faroque Ahmed
Councillor Faroque Ahmed  Labour Party •  Whitechapel
Profile image for Councillor Shahaveer Shubo Hussain
Councillor Shahaveer Shubo Hussain  Labour Party •  Bromley South
Profile image for Councillor Rebaka Sultana
Councillor Rebaka Sultana  Chair of General Purposes •  Labour Party •  Bethnal Green East
Profile image for Councillor Leelu Ahmed
Councillor Leelu Ahmed  Labour Party •  Mile End
Profile image for Councillor Peter Golds
Councillor Peter Golds  Chair of Licensing Committee •  Conservative •  Island Gardens
Simmi Yesmin
Profile image for Councillor Musthak Ahmed
Councillor Musthak Ahmed  (Cabinet Member for Jobs, Enterprise, Skills and Growth) •  Aspire •  Bethnal Green West
Profile image for Councillor Sabina Akhtar
Councillor Sabina Akhtar  Aspire •  Stepney Green
Profile image for Councillor Ahmodur Khan
Councillor Ahmodur Khan  Scrutiny Lead for Resources •  Aspire •  Blackwall & Cubitt Town
Profile image for CouncillorAbdul Malik
Councillor Abdul Malik  Chair of Human Resources Committee •  Aspire •  Blackwall & Cubitt Town
Profile image for Councillor Bellal Uddin
Councillor Bellal Uddin  Scrutiny Lead for Adults and Health Services •  Aspire •  Blackwall & Cubitt Town
Profile image for Councillor Abdi Mohamed
Councillor Abdi Mohamed  Scrutiny Lead for Community Safety •  Labour Party •  Bow East
Profile image for Councillor Amina Ali
Councillor Amina Ali  Labour Party •  Bow East