The Licensing Sub-Committee of Barking and Dagenham Council met on Monday 1 December 2025 to consider an application for a new premises licence for Brati A&A Cafe, located at 530 Rainham Road South, Dagenham. The committee approved the application, with the condition that alcohol sales must conclude by 10 pm on Sundays.

Brati A&A Cafe Premises Licence Application

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application for a new premises licence for Brati A&A Cafe, 530 Rainham Road South, Dagenham, RM10 7XD. The applicant, Lulzim Brati, sought permission to sell alcohol from 10 am to 10:30 pm, Monday to Sunday.

Three representations were received from interested parties, raising concerns under the licensing objectives of public safety, prevention of crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm. No conciliation was reached between the applicant and the interested parties.

Concerns Raised by Interested Parties:

During the hearing, residents expressed significant concerns about the potential impact of the new licence on the local area.

• Terence Abbott, a resident living directly above the proposed premises, voiced worries about noise and smoke, stating, I can smell the smoke, I can hear the music from there. He highlighted his pre-existing health conditions, including chronic lung disease and heart disease, and expressed fears that the café's operating hours until 10:30 pm would prevent him from sleeping. Mr. Abbott also noted that five out of fourteen shops in the vicinity already sell alcohol, and this would be the sixth, which he considered excessive. He further alleged that the current construction work at the premises was not adhering to council rules, citing instances of working out of hours and on Sundays. He also raised concerns about past anti-social behaviour in the area, including drug use and discarded paraphernalia, and expressed a lack of satisfaction with how previous complaints had been handled by the council and police.

• Another resident, Terry, who identified as a recovered alcoholic, echoed concerns about the number of alcohol-selling establishments in the area, stating, We've already got five, nearly six businesses operating with an alcohol licence. He linked this to a higher crime rate for alcohol and drug-related crimes in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. He argued that adding another alcohol outlet would contribute to and worsen existing problems, stating, It's going to cause more of a problem there than it already is. It's already a problem. We don't need to increase the problem, we need to reduce the problem. He also detailed issues experienced during the construction phase, including working out of hours, blocking resident parking, damage to property, and contractors leaving bottles on the grass. He questioned the necessity of an alcohol licence for a premises located directly above residential properties.

Applicant's Response and Proposed Measures:

The applicant's agent, Nursever Er, and the applicant, Lulzim Brati, presented their case, outlining measures to promote the licensing objectives. They emphasised that Brati A&A Cafe would primarily be a food-serving establishment, with alcohol sales being ancillary.

• To address concerns about crime and disorder, the applicant proposed installing a digital CCTV system covering internal and external areas, with recordings retained for 31 days and made available to the police. They also committed to maintaining refusal and incident logs, training staff on responsible alcohol service, and implementing a zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs. Alcohol sales would be restricted to the proposed hours, and staff would be trained to refuse service to intoxicated individuals.

• Regarding public nuisance, the applicant stated that the café would not feature live or recorded music or late-night refreshment. They committed to managing any outdoor activity to prevent disturbances, keeping doors and windows closed to minimise noise, and arranging waste collection and deliveries during daytime hours. Signage would be displayed encouraging customers to leave quietly and respect local residents.

• To protect children from harm, a Challenge 25 policy would be enforced, with staff trained in age verification and refusal of sales to minors. The premises would aim to maintain a family-friendly environment.

• For public safety, the applicant committed to having health and safety and fire risk assessments in place, adequate fire-fighting equipment, and clear fire exits. Staff would be trained in emergency procedures.

The applicant also addressed specific concerns about noise from the café, stating that soundproofing had already been installed. They offered to close alcohol sales at 10 pm on Sundays to appease residents. Regarding the construction issues, the applicant stated that the building works were nearing completion and would be finished within a month.

Decision of the Sub-Committee:

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered all oral and written representations. They noted that their decision was limited to the licensable activity of the sale of alcohol and could not consider issues outside of the licensing objectives, such as building regulations or planning matters. The committee also clarified that the borough did not currently suffer from cumulative impact, meaning they could not consider the cumulative impact of licensed premises on the promotion of licensing objectives.

The Sub-Committee resolved to approve the application for a premises licence for Brati A&A Cafe. However, a condition was added that the sale of alcohol must conclude by 10 pm on Sundays. A party has the right to appeal this decision to the Magistrates Court.