Hackney's Licensing Sub Committee D has approved a premises licence for Donny's, a restaurant located at 2 Westgate Street, authorising late night refreshment from Thursday to Saturday.
The decision, made on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, allows Donny's to serve late night refreshments indoors until 01:30 on Thursdays and until 03:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The committee added several conditions to the licence, addressing concerns raised by local authorities and residents.
Donny's Doners is a new restaurant project in the heart of Hackney, situated directly opposite Netil House, just off Mare Street, in a ground floor retail unit which has previously been a takeaway restaurant.
The applicant, Dirty Donny's Ltd, proposed several measures to promote the four licensing objectives1, including maintaining a comprehensive CCTV system, operating a zero tolerance policy to drugs, complying with the Hackney Police/Council Community Safety Unit Drugs and Weapons Policy, recording all complaints in an occurrence book, and displaying a notice at the exit requesting patrons to respect local residents.
The CCTV system will be monitored by a trained member of staff on duty at all times licensable activities are taking place. Recorded images must be available for immediate inspection upon request by officers of Responsible Authorities. A system must be in place to provide images for uploading upon request to the Police, and adequate portable hardware (such as compact disks or USB storage devices) must be available for downloading images upon request to officers of other Responsible Authorities.
Conditions added to the licence include:
- Maintaining a comprehensive CCTV system.
- Operating a zero tolerance policy to drugs, complying with the Hackney Police/Council Community Safety Unit Drugs and Weapons Policy.
- Recording all complaints in an occurrence book. The Licence Holder shall ensure that the details of all complaints are recorded in an occurrence book.
- Displaying a notice at the exit requesting patrons to respect local residents.
- Maintaining an incident log.
- Having a Delivery Management Plan agreed with the police.
- Ensuring no alcohol is consumed on the premises.
- Training staff on waste disposal responsibilities.
- Maintaining an adequate supply of waste receptacles.
- Adhering to waste collection timeframes.
- Regularly checking and clearing litter outside the premises.
- Providing a receptacle for cigarette ends.
- Displaying the trade waste agreement in the premises window.
The Licensing Sub Committee D, comprised of Councillor Gilbert Smyth and Councillor Lynne Troughton, reviewed representations from the Environmental Enforcement Authority, who were concerned about public nuisance, and from the Police Licensing Authority, who cited concerns about crime and disorder. The London Fields Safer Neighbourhood Team also raised concerns about thefts, snatches and robberies in the area, especially during night-time economy hours, and the potential for the premises to encourage loitering and provide opportunities for predators to target customers.
PS 269CE Kerrie Ryan of the London Fields Safer Neighbourhood Team said the area is a hotspot for thefts, snatches and robberies, especially during night-time economy hours. PS Ryan expressed concern that the late opening of Donny's would encourage customers to loiter, creating opportunities for predators.
Seven representations were received from local residents, also citing concerns about crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.
-
The four licensing objectives are the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. ↩
