A decision on extending the operating hours for Mario's Pizza has been postponed by the Tower Hamlets Licensing Sub Committee, following concerns over public nuisance and a history of licence breaches.
The committee met on Thursday, January 22, 2026, to consider the application to extend late-night refreshment hours for the takeaway at 133 Salmon Lane. The applicant, Abdullah Sahil, had initially sought to extend hours to 4:00 AM seven days a week, significantly beyond the current licence and council framework hours.
Current and Proposed Hours
Mario's Pizza's current operating hours for late-night refreshment are Monday to Thursday from 23:00 to 00:00 (midnight), and Friday and Saturday from 23:00 to 01:00. The premises' opening hours are Monday to Thursday from 11:00 to 00:00, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 01:00, and Sunday from 11:00 to 23:00. The proposed extension would have allowed operation until 4:00 AM seven days a week.
This significantly exceeds the council's framework hours for late-night refreshment, which are: Monday to Thursday, 06:00 to 23:30; Friday and Saturday, 06:00 to 00:00; and Sunday, 06:00 to 22:30.
Concerns and Applicant's Mitigation
Concerns were raised by Environmental Health and residents regarding potential public nuisance. These included the proximity of residential properties and the likelihood of increased noise from patrons and delivery drivers during the extended hours. Residents also objected to noise from an extractor fan, odours, and potential anti-social behaviour.
To mitigate these concerns, the applicant, Abdullah Sahil, proposed several measures. He highlighted that the premises operates solely as a takeaway and delivery service with no indoor seating, and that no music or entertainment is provided. Deliveries would be handled quietly, and he stated that extending hours would align with local trading patterns. Regarding the extractor fan, he claimed that one of the two exhaust fans, a silent motor, would be switched off after 11 PM. The business has also displayed posters requesting customers to be quiet. Furthermore, they have stopped taking orders from certain platforms at midnight, relying solely on their own drivers who wait in their cars outside the shop.
History of Breaches
The Licensing Authority noted a history of breaches of licensable hours by the premises. This included failed test purchases in October and November 2024, where pizzas were purchased after the licensable hours, such as at 1:15 AM on October 12, 2024, and 1:33 AM on November 16, 2024. Previous breaches also involved operating a delivery service from the rear of the property after licensable hours in February 2020, and a failed test purchase in March 2020 where a pizza ordered online at 2:00 AM was delivered at 2:30 AM. The consequences of these past breaches included warning letters, a notice of intended prosecution, and advice regarding licence applications. The Licensing Authority expressed that these breaches demonstrated a clear, blatant disregard to the Licensing Act
and that they had little faith that he will abide by his licence hours and conditions if the variation is granted.
Committee's Decision and Rationale
Following discussions, the committee decided to refuse the application. The decision was based on the significant extension of hours sought, the proximity to residential properties, and the applicant's history of breaching licensable hours. These factors raised concerns about the promotion of the licensing objective of preventing public nuisance.
Licensing Process and Considerations
The Licensing Sub Committee's process involves considering the application and any representations from responsible authorities and interested parties. Key factors weighed heavily include the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. The committee also considers the applicant's compliance history, proximity to residential areas, and adherence to council policies and framework hours. This information can be found in the Guidance for Licensing Sub document.
Similar Applications
During the same meeting, the committee considered other similar applications. Milano Express Pizza and Peri Peri applied to extend their late-night refreshment hours, initially seeking up to 4:00 AM but amending to 3:00 AM Sunday to Thursday and 4:00 AM Friday and Saturday. They committed to a delivery-only service after 1:00 AM, with no customers on the premises. This application was granted with modifications. Another application, for The Widow's Son, involved extending alcohol sales and late-night refreshment hours, along with an external seating area. Representations were received from residents and authorities concerning noise, public nuisance, crime and disorder, and public safety, citing a history of breaches. This application was adjourned for further clarification. Further details on these cases can be found in the Public reports pack and the Decisions document.
