The Redbridge Council Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to convene to consider an application for a new premises licence for Lounge 71, and to determine the procedure for licensing hearings. The meeting was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 17 June 2025, at 10:30 a.m. in the Council Chamber at the Town Hall, Ilford.

Lounge 71 Licensing Application

The main item for discussion was the application for a new premises licence for Lounge 71, located at 190 George Lane, South Woodford, E18 1AY. The applicant is Fidez HZ Limited, with Mr Nauman Hameed named as the applicant.

The application seeks to authorise several licensable activities:

• Live music and recorded music from 11:00 until 01:00 Sunday to Thursday, and until 02:00 Friday and Saturday.
• Late night refreshment from 23:00 until 01:00 Sunday to Thursday, and until 02:00 Friday and Saturday.
• Supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises from 11:00 until 01:00 Sunday to Thursday, and until 02:00 Friday and Saturday.
• Opening hours to match the licensable activities.

According to the report pack, the premises operates as a restaurant and the application is an update to a previous licence.

The report pack notes that four representations were received from other persons opposing the licence application, raising concerns about:

• Prevention of public nuisance
• Prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• Protection of children from harm

No objections were lodged by any responsible authority¹, but amended timings and additional conditions were agreed between the Licensing Authority and the applicant. These include:

• Live music, recorded music, and supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises from 11:00 until 23:30 Sunday to Thursday, and until 01:00 Friday and Saturday.
• Late Night Refreshment from 23:00 until 00:00 Sunday to Thursday, and 23:00 until 01:00 Friday and Saturday.
• Opening hours from 11:00 until 00:00 Sunday to Thursday, and 11:00 until 01:00 Friday and Saturday.

Lounge 71 is located within the South Woodford Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ). The council's Statement of Licensing Policy states that there is a rebuttable presumption that applications for new premises licences within a CIZ will be refused, unless the applicant can demonstrate that granting the application will not add to the cumulative impact.

The report pack outlines several options available to the Licensing Sub-Committee:

• Grant the application.
• Grant the application, including the addition of terms and conditions to promote the licensing objectives.
• Grant the application in part only, including the addition of terms and conditions to promote the licensing objectives.
• Reject the application.

Representations from other persons included in the report pack:

• Anthony Bexley, a local resident, objected to the application, citing issues with crime and disorder, public nuisance, public safety and the protection of children from harm. Mr Bexley stated that the area has faced persistent issues for more than twenty years, particularly relating to the three neighbouring licensed properties within this parade, and that extending operating hours until 2:00am is likely to increase noise, anti-social behaviour, and crime.
• Councillor Beverley Brewer, Councillor for South Woodford, raised concerns from local residents about the lateness of the application, the fact that the previous occupants had no alcohol licence, and that the applicant wants to stay open later than is usually allowed by the Licensing Policy in quiet, residential areas. Councillor Beverley Brewer also noted that the application is in the name of FIDES HZ LTD, a company whose nature of business at Companies House is listed as Other letting and operating of own or leased real estate, and that its predecessor company Fides HN Ltd went into liquidation last August.
• Councillor Joe Hehir also submitted a representation echoing the concerns raised by Councillor Beverley Brewer and local residents.
• Stephen Wright, a local resident, also objected to the application, citing issues with crime and disorder, public nuisance, public safety and the protection of children from harm. Mr Wright stated that the addition of a further late night license will create a greater draw to the area as a late night spot, and that a 2am license will cause further issues until at least 2.30am for local residents.

Procedure for Licensing Hearings

The sub-committee was scheduled to discuss the procedure for licensing hearings, including the order in which evidence would be considered.