A new premises licence application for Abu Afif, a restaurant located at 162 Camden High Street, is facing opposition from local residents and authorities. The Camden Council Licensing Panel E is scheduled to review the application, submitted by Abu Afif Camden Ltd, at a meeting on 7 August 2025.
The application seeks permission to provide late-night refreshment from 23:00 to 01:00 Sunday to Wednesday, and from 23:00 to 02:00 Thursday and Saturday. The requested opening hours are 10:00 to 01:00 Sunday to Wednesday and 10:00 to 02:00 Thursday and Saturday. These hours fall outside the standard framework outlined in Camden's Statement of Licensing Policy 2025-2030, which permits no sale or supply of alcohol from 09:00 to midnight Monday to Thursday, 09:00 to 00:30 Friday and Saturday, and 09:00 to 23:00 on Sunday.
According to the meeting's report pack, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the applicant have agreed to reduced hours and additional conditions. These include the installation, operation, and maintenance of CCTV, a requirement to call the police to incidents of violence, and a ban on admitting persons carrying alcohol to the premises.
However, the application has drawn four representations, including objections from the Licensing Authority, Environmental Health, a resident association, and a local resident.
The Licensing Authority has stated that the application falls outside the framework hours outlined in Camden's Statement of Licensing Policy 2025-2030. The premises are also located in the Camden Town Cumulative Impact Policy area, where there is a presumption to refuse new applications. The Licensing Authority also noted a prior complaint about the premises trading and providing hot food after 23:00 without a valid licence. Licensing officers visited the premises on 3rd June 2025 after receiving a complaint. The owner was cooperative and claimed they were unaware that a licence was required when they took over the premises.
The Licensing Authority has suggested conditions that could be attached to the licence should the panel be minded to grant the application, including:
- Late night refreshment should only be permitted until 01:00 Sunday to Wednesday and 02:00 Thursday to Saturday.
- Customers smoking on the public footway should not be permitted to cause an obstruction.
- Notices should be displayed asking customers to be considerate to neighbours.
- Measures should be in place to prevent litter.
- All front of house staff should be trained in Welfare and Vulnerability Engagement (WAVE).
Environmental Health has raised concerns about the potential for nuisance from outside areas, questioning the proposals for the use of the external dining area, the removal of external furniture, and the location of the extract outlet and inlet for the restaurant. Environmental Health has specifically asked about the location of the extract outlet and inlet, noting that limitations on placement exist due to the listed nature of the Centre.
A resident association has stated that late-night venues encourage inebriated people to hang around, leading to thefts, drug dealing, and fights. They also believe the proposed trading hours would negatively impact residents due to noise, litter, and street urination.
Another resident has objected to the application, arguing that a licence until 05:00 would attract more late-night activity, noise, rubbish, beggars, rough sleepers, tents, drug dealers, and crime.
The Licensing Panel E will consider these objections at its meeting.