A licensing application by Pepe's Piri Piri, a restaurant located at 151 Edgware Road, has drawn an objection from a local resident, raising concerns about potential disturbances. The Westminster Council Licensing Sub-Committee (3), comprised of Councillor Robert Eagleton, Deputy Cabinet Member - Housing, Councillor Tim Mitchell, and Councillor Hamza Taouzzale, convened on Thursday 28 August 2025, to consider the application and the objections raised.
The applicant, Sauki Enterprise Ltd, is seeking a new premises licence to serve late-night refreshments indoors between 23:00 and 03:00, seven days a week. This request has prompted representations from various parties, including Environmental Health, the Hyde Park Estate Association (HPEA), Marylebone Ward Councillors, and the Marylebone Association.
Environmental Health raised concerns about potential public nuisance and the protection of children from harm, requesting a site visit to discuss the application. Environmental Health stated that insufficient information has been provided and requested a site visit to discuss the application after which additional conditions are likely to be proposed. The HPEA objected to the proposed hours for late-night refreshment, raising concerns about crime and disorder, public safety and public nuisance. The Marylebone Ward Councillors echoed the HPEA's concerns about crime, anti-social behaviour, and public nuisance. The Marylebone Association also objected, citing concerns about public nuisance and crime and disorder, particularly due to delivery drivers and late-night customers.
A resident objected to the application, citing ongoing disturbance and residential impact, noise intrusion, and conflict with planning use,
stating that granting a permanent premises licence for alcohol consumption would intensify these nuisances and represent an unacceptable encroachment. The resident objecting to the application stated that the grant of a permanent premises licence for alcohol consumption would intensify these nuisances and represent an unacceptable encroachment.
The vicinity of Pepe's Piri Piri already hosts numerous late-night licensed venues, including:
- Café Helen (105A Edgware Rd): Licensed to serve late-night refreshments until 5:00 AM daily.
- Ranoush Juice (43 Edgware Rd): Open until 3:00 AM every night.
- Beirut Express (112 Edgware Rd): Licensed for late-night service until 2:00 AM daily.
- Jouri (71 Edgware Rd): Licensed for service until about 1:30 AM on weekdays (slightly earlier on Sunday).
- Al-Dar Restaurant (61–69 Edgware Rd): Licensed for service until about 1:30 AM (Mon–Sat), and until 1:00 AM on Sundays.
- Creams Café (76 Edgware Rd): Open until 3:00 AM every night.
- Amorino (138 Edgware Rd): Operating until approximately 1:00 AM.
- Taco Bell (100 Edgware Rd): Typically operating late (around 2:00 AM).
- German Doner Kebab (106 Edgware Rd): Open until 2:00–3:00 AM.
- Mehmet Efendi (85 Edgware Rd): Frequently open until 2:30–3:00 AM.
The resident requested that their personal information be redacted from any publicly published records or online materials relating to the objection.
In response to the concerns, the applicant has proposed several measures to mitigate potential issues, including hiring additional Security Industry Authority (SIA) registered security personnel, installing CCTV cameras, and training staff to report suspicious activity. The applicant also stated that they were willing to reduce their requested hours to 03:00 instead of 04:00, and that they were developing proposals to supervise delivery drivers, conduct clean-up patrols and ensure that all activity remains indoors with no external speakers or amplified sound. The applicant describes the operation as a fast-casual chicken takeaway with limited eat-in seating (20 covers). Primary footfall is delivery-led (Just Eat/Uber Eats) and late-night workers from nearby hotels and hospitals.
The Licensing Sub-Committee will consider the application in light of Westminster's statement of Licensing Policy, effective from October 2021, and guidance issued by the Secretary of State under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003. The sub-committee is required to have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State under Section 182 the Licensing Act 2003. The most recent version was published in December 2023.
Several policies within the City of Westminster Statement of Licensing Policy apply to the Pepe's Piri Piri application:
- Policy SCZ1 applies: Applications within a designated Special Consideration Zone should demonstrate that they have taken account of the issues particular to the Zone, in question as identified within the 2020 Cumulative Impact Assessment, and should set out any proposed mitigation measures in relation to those issues within their operating schedule. The Edgware Road is a designated Special Consideration Zone.
- Policy HRS1 applies: Applications within the core hours set out below in this policy will generally be granted for the relevant premises uses, subject to not being contrary to other policies in the Statement of Licensing Policy. Applications for hours outside the core hours set out in Clause C will be considered on their merits, subject to other relevant policies.
- Policy FFP1 applies: Applications outside the West End Cumulative Zones will generally be granted subject to: 1. The application meeting the requirements of policies CD1, PS1, PN1 and CH1. 2. The hours for licensable activities are within the council's Core Hours Policy HRS1. 3. The operation of any delivery services for alcohol and/or latenight refreshment meeting the council's Ancillary Delivery of Alcohol and/or Late-Night Refreshment Policy DEL1. 4. The applicant has taken account of the Special Consideration Zones Policy SCZ1 if the premises are located within a designated zone. 5. The application and operation of the venue meet the definition of a fast food premises in Clause D.
The sub-committee will also consider the Public reports pack provided to the attendees for the meeting, which includes premises plans, applicant supporting documents, premises history, proposed conditions, and a residential map and list of premises in the vicinity. It is important to note that this is a new premises licence application for Pepe's Piri Piri, and therefore no premises licence history exists.
