The Licensing Sub-Committee of Havering Council met on Thursday 24 July 2025 to consider an application for a new premises licence for GeTurkish Ltd.

Application for a New Premises Licence - GeTurkish Ltd

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application for a new premises licence for GeTurkish Ltd, located at 8 Station Road, Romford, RM2 6DA. The applicant, Mr Ruhul Amin, sought permission for late-night refreshment from 23:00 to 02:00 seven days a week, with opening hours from 11:00 to 02:00 daily.

Representations were received from three responsible authorities: the Metropolitan Police, Environmental Health, and the Licensing Authority. Objections were raised primarily concerning the proposed late operating hours, arguing they were outside the council's licensing policy guidelines and could lead to increased public nuisance, crime, and disorder.

The Metropolitan Police expressed concerns that a venue operating until 02:00 in a predominantly residential area could contribute to noise and anti-social behaviour. Environmental Health highlighted potential noise from an extract fan located close to a neighbouring property and cooking odours. They also noted that the proposed hours conflicted with the premises' existing planning permission, which restricted use to between 09:00 and 23:00. The Licensing Authority pointed out that the late-night refreshment regime under the Licensing Act 2003 is specifically designed to manage potential issues arising from customers who may have consumed alcohol.

Mr Amin argued that there was a genuine community demand for extended hours, citing requests from local residents and shift workers, and the proximity of Gidea Park Train Station and a 24-hour taxi office. He presented proposed conditions to mitigate potential issues, including CCTV, staff training, and waste management, and suggested a compromise of operating until 01:30.

Despite the applicant's proposed conditions and willingness to reduce hours to 01:30, the Licensing Sub-Committee was not satisfied that the measures would sufficiently promote the licensing objectives. They noted that the applicant had not adequately researched the impact of deliveries and had not provided sufficient evidence to demonstrate their capacity to manage this aspect of the business due to limited resources. The committee also considered the misalignment between the proposed licensing hours and the existing planning permission.

Ultimately, the Licensing Sub-Committee decided to refuse the application for the new premises licence. They concluded that granting the licence with the requested hours would not adequately promote the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder, ensuring public safety, preventing public nuisance, and protecting children from harm. The decision was communicated to the applicant, who has the right to appeal to the Magistrates' Court within 21 days.