The Licensing Sub-Committee met to discuss an application for a new premises licence for Pepe's Piri Piri, located at 3 Byron Parade, Uxbridge Road, Uxbridge, UB10 0LZ. The committee decided to grant the licence, with reduced opening hours and a requirement for a new noise assessment report.

Pepe's Piri Piri Licensing Application

The Sub-Committee considered an application for a new premises licence for Pepe's Piri Piri, a fast-food outlet seeking authorisation for late-night refreshment, both indoors and outdoors, from 11pm to 3am, Monday to Sunday. The application had drawn representations from the Environmental Protection Team, acting as a responsible authority, and two interested parties, citing concerns over public nuisance, public safety and the protection of children from harm.

The committee decided to grant the application subject to the following conditions:

• The opening hours between Sunday and Wednesday will be between 11:00 and 02:00.
• The opening hours between Thursday and Saturday will be between 11:00 and 03:00.
• A new noise assessment report must be submitted to the Licensing Authority no later than six months from the date of the decision.
• The premises must have a clear dispersal policy that must be made available to authorised council officers on request.
• An incident book shall be kept at the premises and made available to authorised council officers on request, which will record any noise complaints received and any incidents of disorder.

The applicant, Rahim Rashid, and his colleague Sadiq Gardia, told the Sub-Committee that they had reviewed neighbouring premises to determine typical operating hours when making their application. They observed that several nearby establishments, including those serving alcohol and offering shisha, were permitted to operate until 2:00 - 4:00 in the morning.

They had invested £30,000 in ESP systems designed to reduce noise and odour to minimise environmental impact. They had also implemented additional measures, such as private waste storage and improved cleanliness around the premises, which they believed had reduced local disruption.

Mr Rashid said that their engagement with the Environment Protection Team was limited, as the feedback received was perceived to be subjective. He said that objective data had been submitted and a willingness to renegotiate operating hours was expressed. He suggested that nearby building works may have affected the noise report and a revised assessment was offered if required.

Objections

Simon Boniface from the Environmental Protection Team, raised an objection regarding the premises due to concerns about its kitchen extraction system. He said that a site visit had been undertaken by the Environmental Protection team officers to inspect the premises, assess its layout and evaluate its proximity to residential properties. During the visit, excessive daytime noise was observed from the kitchen extract system which was found to terminate below residential windows. Smoke and odour were detected and lingered in the courtyard area.

Mr Boniface said that the cooking method, involving an open grill, was identified as a contributing factor. He expressed concerns about the difficulty of mitigating the harm, particularly regarding odour, and suggested that extending operating hours beyond 23:00 would exacerbate the impact during sensitive times.

The Sub-Committee was told that although no complaints had been received from residents, complaints typically arose after prolonged exposure. Clarification was also provided regarding the technical aspects of the extract fan.

Mr Boniface said that noise and odour assessments were carried out subjectively, as no formal standards existed for nuisance. He noted that the Applicant's noise report appeared to rely on a higher background noise level, which may have led to an underestimation of the overall impact. The current noise levels were assessed as being notably above what is typically considered acceptable.

Two representations had also been received from interested parties, Ritesh Pankhania, who lives on Star Road, and Doreen Ellis, who also lives on Star Road very close to Byron Parade. Neither attended the meeting.

Mr Pankhania objected to the application because the proposed opening hours (until 3:00 AM daily) were excessive and inappropriate for this residential area. He said that the area already faced issues with noise, littering, and groups loitering late at night. He also raised concerns about nighttime traffic and delivery activity in a narrow, busy road posing a safety risk. He cited an accident which required the Police to close the main road and a serious incident involving an attack. In addition, he stated that delivery drivers regularly enter Star Road via the no entry route, drive at dangerous speeds and park illegally on the footpath on the corner of the junction. He said that the corner near the estate agent has become a hotspot for fly tipping, food waste, and even urine, creating an ongoing public hygiene and nuisance issue. He was especially concerned about the impact on elderly neighbours, families, and children and said that the late-night hours would reduce quality of life, disturb sleep, and potentially encourage further unsafe or anti social behaviour in the area.

Ms Ellis said that she wanted to register her objection to the late licensing application for Pepe's Peri Peri at 3 Byron Parade. She said that she was an elderly resident living in Star Road very close to Byron Parade, and that her garden backs onto the garden of the Tamara Lounge. She said that the neighbouring Tamara lounge was already a large night life venue, and that for many years herself and her neighbors have had to endure late night antisocial behavior from this existing night spot, as well as a lot of noise pollution. She said that commonly in Star Road they experience arguments, fights, littering, loitering, drunkenness and even urinating down the side of people houses. She said that she felt intimidated by this behavior as she is in her 90's and lives alone, and that she felt that they already have enough to tolerate without additional venues being allowed late licensing hours and thereby increasing anti social behavior and further impacting the quality of life in their neighborhood.

Decision

The Sub-Committee recognised that this was a new application for a premises licence for the provision of late-night refreshment Monday to Sunday from 23.00 hours to 03:00 hours and the Applicant's willingness to work with the Licensing Authority to address the issues raised by the objectors.

The Sub-Committee noted that apart from the objection of one Responsible Authority (The Environmental Protection Team) and the two interested parties to the application, there have been no further objections particularly from residents, other Responsible Authorities nor members' enquiries logged by councillors in respect of this application.

The applicant had expressed his willingness to work with the Licensing Authority to deal with the issues raised in the objections. He had agreed to conditions to reduce the opening hours and do a new noise assessment report, to address the concerns raised by the Environmental Protection Team, as the measurements in the one submitted were high due to ongoing building works when it was carried out.

Having considered all the information put before it, the Sub-Committee were satisfied on balance that the Applicant would comply with the licensing objectives¹.