The Licensing Sub-Committee convened to discuss two applications for variations to premises licences. The committee approved the variation for CEO Lounge, subject to agreed conditions with the Metropolitan Police, but refused the variation for Makola Market.

CEO Lounge Variation

The Licensing Sub-Committee approved the application for a variation to the premises licence for CEO Lounge, located at 93-97 New Road, Dagenham, RM10 9NL. The decision was made in accordance with the agreed hours between the applicant and the Metropolitan Police, following correspondence to address concerns regarding the licensing objectives¹. The CEO Lounge Limited, the licence holder, applied to extend the licensable activities for the sale of alcohol, recorded music, and late-night refreshment. They also sought to add activities for performance of dance and live music. The proposed variation included licensable activities for performance of dance and live music from midday to midnight, Sunday to Thursday, and midday to 2.30am Friday and Saturday.

Concerns and Assurances

One representation was received from an interested party, raising concerns about public nuisance, crime and disorder, and the protection of children from harm. Victor Benetier, the owner of the CEO Lounge, addressed the committee, stating that the claims were not supported by evidence and did not reflect how the CEO Lounge operates. He said that the lounge employs SIA² licensed security and a traffic marshal every evening to manage dispersal, and that families with children live directly above the lounge, and no complaints have been received from them. Councillor Julia Williams asked about traffic marshals and parking, and Mr Benetier clarified that there is designated parking for around 30 cars at the back of the venue, and the traffic marshals manage traffic flow, including residents, Ubers and deliveries.

Councillor Williams also asked about sound limiters for live music, and Mr Benetier explained that acoustic panels have been installed on the walls, and more panels will be added to the doors to reduce sound. He also mentioned that part of the agreement with PC Owen Dunn of the Metropolitan Police was to reduce live music to 1am.

Councillor Sabbir Zamee asked if any incidents had been recorded or reported at the premises, and Mr Benetier confirmed that they have an incident book, but no incidents have occurred so far.

Makola Market Variation Refusal

The Licensing Sub-Committee refused the application for a variation to the premises licence at Makola Market, located at 2-3 Grand Parade, Oxlow Lane, Dagenham, RM10 7YT. The committee stated it was not satisfied that the licensing objectives would be promoted if the application was granted.

Makola Market London Limited, the licence holder, applied to extend the times for the sale of alcohol and add the licensable activity of late-night refreshment. The proposed addition of late-night refreshment was for Sunday to Thursday from 11pm to 0030 and Friday and Saturday from 11pm to 0130am. The extension for the sale of alcohol would see alcohol sales cease at 0030, Sunday to Thursday, and Friday and Saturday at 0130am. The application also sought to add non-standard timings for the sale of alcohol on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day from 8am to 0030am, and add non-standard timings for late-night refreshment on those days from 11pm to 0030am.

Objections to the Application

Three representations were received against the variation application, including one from Councillor Ingrid Robinson, Heath Ward Councillor, supported by another ward councillor, one from the council's licensing authority responsible authority officer, and one from an interested party.

The licensing authority representative, Claria O, raised concerns about the premises being located in a mixed-use area with residential properties directly above, opposite and across the premises. She said that granting the variation would increase disturbance and nuisance to these residents, especially in the evening and late at night. She also stated that the licensing authority had received concerns and complaints from residents about noise and nuisance linked to the premises, and had received photographic evidence of the premises operating beyond its permitted hours, which is a direct breach of the licence conditions.

Claria O also stated that the licence holder failed to attend a meeting arranged by the licensing team to discuss the licence conditions and complaints. She added that during a visit on 5 September 2025, it was noticed that the premises layout had changed significantly without the licensing authority being notified, which is a breach of section 136 of the Licensing Act 2003. She also noted several other breaches of the licence conditions, including the lack of a person conversant with the CCTV system being present, the lack of signage regarding CCTV, the sale of beers above 6% alcohol by volume, and the failure to provide CCTV footage when requested.

Councillor Ingrid Robinson agreed with the licensing officer, stating that there is already a drinking issue within Oxlow Lane, and extending the licensing hours would have a detrimental effect on the residents there. She also said that extending the licensing time would cause difficulties for S&T officers to police the area, and that extending licensing hours may place some residents in even more harm, as Heath Ward is one of the most deprived wards in the area with a large amount of domestic violence.

Applicant's Response

Olubemiga Olushola, representing the applicant, stated that the reason Benjamin Coombson, the applicant, had missed the meeting with licensing officers was because he had an emergency and had to take one of the kids he was looking after to A&E, but he could not communicate this to the licensing officers. He also said that the internal layout changes were minor and a variation had been submitted in 2022 to reflect the changes. He added that the technical person had been instructed to set up the CCTV to record for 31 days, and it was not a deliberate breach of the licensing conditions. He also stated that the area has a pavement licence until 10pm, and that many residents support the business.

Mr Coombson addressed the committee, stating that he felt he was being personally targeted, and that someone had told his wife that they knew people in the council and would make sure his business was closed. He said that he was a teacher and was just trying to bring the community together, and that he had never had any police problems in the four years he had been operating.

Samina Baloch, licensing officer, responded to Mr Coombson's comments, stating that she had arranged childcare and made special arrangements to visit the premises at 7pm, as Mr Coombson had said he was a teacher. She also stated that she had never raised her voice with any licensee in her 20 years of working for Barking and Dagenham Licensing Department, and that Mr Coombson had started shouting at her for no reason, which is why he sent her a text message apologising. She also stated that the licensing team had visited the premises seven times since 2001, and had explained all the conditions to him, but there had been excuses every time.

Councillor Robinson stated that she had to take into account not just the shop owner, but the people that live upstairs, and that it would be unreasonable to have the extended period of drinking.

Mr Coombson responded that he had a petition signed by 19 people who lived upstairs who supported his application. He also stated that he had friends who have lounges that finish around 1am or 2am, and he did not understand why he should be refused when they are in the same borough.

In summing up, Ms Baloch stated that there was a clear pattern of non-compliance and a lack of regard for the licensing regime, and that the licensing authority had no trust or confidence in the licence holder's ability to manage the premises responsibly or to uphold the licensing objectives.

Mr Olushola stated that the committee should look at the application with the view that this is a family business which started about 2021 and is providing a service to the community, and that 19 or 20 committee members had signed for him to extend the license. He asked that the committee grant at least some time, probably 30 minutes or one hour, to extend the operational hours.