A licensing application for Duzce Traditional Turkish Coffee House on Stoke Newington Road has sparked concerns over potential illegal gaming machines and public safety. The establishment aims to be a peaceful community space for food, hospitality, and conversation
and not one that attracts rowdy behaviour or loitering.
The Hackney Council Licensing Sub Committee E convened on Monday 30 June 2025, to discuss the application for a new premises licence for the coffee house, located at 158A Stoke Newington Road, N16 7UY. Mr Talat Ozcan is seeking permission to supply alcohol for consumption on the premises between 11:00 and 22:00, Monday to Sunday.
The sub-committee had two options regarding the application: approval with potential conditions or restrictions, or refusal. The outcome of the meeting is not contained within the meeting information.
According to the Public reports pack, while the Environmental Health Authority, Fire Authority, and Police initially raised no objections, the Licensing Authority submitted a representation citing concerns about public nuisance and sought clarification on the business's operation. The Licensing Authority also stated that they had received allegations suggesting illegal gaming machines were present on the premises.
A representation was also received from local residents, raising concerns about public safety, the protection of children, increasing commercialisation, littering, smoking, and the impact of increased footfall on the residential street. One resident stated, We feel far more unsafe than we used to living here...The addition of alcohol and later opening hours will only further this issue...I worry for the safety of my child, and my wife when walking alone.
Another resident wrote to the council to object to the application, stating that Foulden Road is, and should always remain, a family orientated quiet residential street.
In response to these concerns, Mr Ozcan's licensing agent clarified that the premises would operate as a traditional Turkish coffee house, not an off-licence or grocery store, and that alcohol sales would be ancillary to the primary business. They also stated that all gaming machines had been removed from the premises. In a letter to the Licensing Authority, the agent stated that As soon as he took over the business, all gaming machines were immediately removed, and none are present on the premises.
The agent also offered to implement measures to address concerns about smoking outside the premises, such as installing signs and training staff to manage customer behaviour. The agent stated that they were prepared to clearly signpost and advise all customers to respect the residential nature of the area
. In addition to signage and staff training, the applicant is considering measures to mitigate the impact of increased footfall and potential public nuisance, such as keeping the front of the premises tidy, restricting deliveries and rubbish removal between 22:00 and 07:00, and providing a phone number for residents to express concerns1.
The sub-committee also considered an application to vary the premises licence for Damsel, located at 70-72 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8DP. The LSC Report stated that the Police submitted a representation citing concerns about the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. The police noted that the premises is situated on the A10 corridor, close to the Shoreditch Special Policy Area, and expressed concerns about the joint removal of conditions that would allow the premises to operate as a bar/club until 01:30 without a minimum stipulation to have any Security Industry Authority (SIA) security operating there. The police also requested that the CCTV conditions be amended to ensure recordings can be downloaded.
1 The applicant's agent offered to implement measures to address concerns about smoking outside the premises, such as installing signs and training staff to manage customer behaviour. The report also mentions that the front of the premises shall be kept tidy at all times and be swept at close, no deliveries will be received or rubbish removed from the premises between 22.00 and 07.00, and a phone number for the premises shall be made available if required upon request to the police, any other responsible authority or any local resident to express any concerns caused by the operation of the premises.