The Licensing Sub-Committee of Westminster City Council met on Thursday 30 October 2025 to determine two licensing applications. The committee granted a new premises licence for Iran Restaurant, subject to agreed conditions, and granted a new sexual entertainment venue licence for The Box, with a decision made to draw back the hours for the licence.

Iran Restaurant, 27 Shepherd Market, London, W1J 7PR

The subcommittee considered an application for a new premises licence for Iran Restaurant, located at 27 Shepherd Market, London, W1J 7PR. The applicant, Shepherd Market Kitchen Limited, sought permission for the retail sale of alcohol for on and off-premises consumption from Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 12 am (midnight), and on Sundays from 12 pm to 10:30 pm. They also applied for late-night refreshments from Monday to Saturday, 11 pm to 12 am (midnight).

Representations were received from three interested parties, who raised concerns about public safety and public nuisance, citing a history of the premises serving alcohol without a licence and previous incidents that drew police attention. The Metropolitan Police Service and Environmental Health initially made representations but subsequently withdrew them after agreements were reached on further conditions.

The applicant, represented by Darius Kramazic, director of the company, argued that the objections were vexatious and stemmed from competition with neighbouring businesses, particularly concerning the use of shisha pipes by other establishments. They highlighted that Iran Restaurant primarily operates as a family-friendly establishment.

After considering the submissions, the subcommittee decided to grant the application. The decision was made with a majority view to grant the application in full, with Councillor Louise Hyams dissenting, having been of the view that the hours for the licence should be drawn back to 3 am. A fully reasoned decision will be sent to all parties in due course.

The Box, 11-12 Walker's Court, London, W1F 0ED

The subcommittee also considered an application for a new sexual entertainment venue (SEV) licence for The Box, located at 11-12 Walker's Court, London, W1F 0ED. The applicant, 2 Too Much Limited, sought to operate with cabaret and performance hours from Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 4 am, and on Sundays from 9 am to 12 am (midnight). This application was essentially a renewal of a previous licence that had expired due to a failure to renew.

Three objections were received from interested parties, all expressing concerns about noise and public nuisance, particularly during the later hours of operation. They argued that extending the hours would exacerbate existing issues in the highly residential area of Soho, impacting residents' ability to sleep and potentially increasing opportunities for street crime and anti-social behaviour. One objector, Conrad Ruba, a local resident, waived their right to anonymity and spoke at the hearing.

The applicant, represented by Craig Baileys and Asim Chaudhry, stated that they were seeking to reinstate their previous licence hours and that the current application was not for an extension. They highlighted that the premises had operated with similar hours since 2012 and that there were no objections from responsible authorities.

The subcommittee discussed the legal implications of the application, noting that they could only alter the SEV licence and not the premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003, which allowed for later hours. After deliberation, the subcommittee decided to grant the application but with a decision to draw back the hours for the licence. A fully reasoned decision will be sent to all parties in due course.