The Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee of Brent Council was scheduled to consider an application for a new premises licence for Sanjit Express, located at 327 Harrow Road, Wembley. The meeting's agenda focused on this single application, with supporting documents detailing the applicant's proposals and representations from the police and the Licensing Authority.

Application for a New Premises Licence for Sanjit Express

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for a new premises licence for Sanjit Express, located at 327 Harrow Road, Wembley, HA9 6BA. The applicant, Swatiben Thakkar, sought permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises from 9am to 10pm, Monday to Sunday, and for the premises to remain open from 8am to 11pm daily.

The report pack indicated that this application fell within a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) in Wembley Central. Brent Council's Statement of Licensing Policy¹ outlines that applications within a CIZ are presumed to be refused unless the applicant can demonstrate that the licence will not negatively impact the licensing objectives. The area is described as experiencing medium levels of deprivation and high levels of alcohol-related crime, with specific concerns around street drinking and anti-social behaviour.

Representations were received from the Police and the Licensing Authority, both of whom raised objections to the application. The police noted that the location is in a busy area, close to Wembley Stadium, and that there are already several off-licences in the immediate vicinity. They argued that granting another licence would likely exacerbate existing issues with street drinking, anti-social behaviour, and crime.

The Licensing Authority also submitted a representation, highlighting concerns about the applicant's understanding of operating an off-licence within a CIZ. They pointed out that a previous application by the same applicant for Sanjit Express had been refused on 15 October 2025, with the sub-committee citing concerns about the applicant's approach to operating in a CIZ, a limited understanding of off-licence operations, and misleading statements regarding experience. The Licensing Authority's representation suggested that the current application, while proposing some more robust conditions and reduced hours, still did not provide compelling evidence to demonstrate it would not contribute to cumulative impact.

The report pack detailed proposed conditions for the licence, largely consistent with those suggested by the Licensing Authority, covering areas such as CCTV operation, incident and refusals logs, staff training, restrictions on the sale of high-strength alcohol and single cans/bottles, and the requirement for a personal licence holder to be present at all times.