The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Kahani Lounge. The committee was also set to discuss the procedure for licensing hearings.

Procedure for Licensing Hearings

The committee was scheduled to review the established procedure for conducting licensing hearings. This procedure outlines the steps that will be followed during a hearing, including the presentation of the application by an officer, the order in which evidence will be considered from the applicant and any interested parties, and the process for summing up arguments before a decision is made in private.

Application for a New Premises Licence: Kahani Lounge

The main item scheduled for discussion was an application for a new premises licence for Kahani Lounge, located at 491-495 High Road, Ilford, IG1 1TZ. The application, submitted by Kahani Lounge Limited, sought to permit a range of licensable activities including indoor sporting events, boxing and wrestling entertainments, live and recorded music, performances of dance, and late-night refreshment.

The applicant proposed specific opening hours and licensable activities, with the premises described as a Pakistani restaurant serving halal food, non-alcoholic drinks, mocktails, and shisha. The application included a schedule of proposed conditions aimed at promoting the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

The report pack indicated that three representations had been received from Other Persons opposing the licence application. These representations raised concerns related to the licensing objectives. No objections were lodged by any Responsible Authorities ¹. However, agreements had been reached with the Metropolitan Police Licensing Team, Licensing Enforcement, and the Community Protection Task Force regarding amended timings, the removal of some licensable activities, and additional conditions to be attached to the licence if granted.

The premises is situated within the Ilford Town Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ)², a designated area where the concentration of licensed premises may be impacting the licensing objectives. The report highlighted that the application's requested hours exceeded the recommended framework hours outlined in the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy.

The committee was presented with several potential decisions: to grant the application, grant it with additional conditions, grant it in part, or reject it.