A new restaurant's bid for a licence has been adjourned after it emerged the premises is subject to an existing planning enforcement notice, meaning any operation as a drinking establishment would be a criminal offence.
R3 Restaurant, located at 88-90 Leytonstone Road in Stratford, was seeking authorisation for the sale of alcohol and music and dance performances on Fridays and Saturdays until 2:00 AM. However, a Newham Council Licensing (2003 Act) Sub-Committee hearing on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, was postponed.
During the hearing, it was revealed that an enforcement notice, issued in 2017 for operating as a drinking establishment without planning permission, remains active on the property. Chloe Selwood, Principal Planner for the council, informed the committee that operating in breach of this notice would constitute a criminal offence. She further clarified that any operation as a drinking establishment would still be a criminal offence because it is a criminal offence not to comply with an enforcement notice,
even if a premises licence were granted.
This revelation prompted the applicant, Klaudia Ciecielag, to request an adjournment to seek legal advice regarding the extant enforcement notice. The meeting summary states, This information prompted the applicant, Ms. Ciecielag, to request an adjournment to seek legal advice.
The specific nature of this advice and how it might influence their revised application or approach to the enforcement notice is not detailed, other than it is to help them make a better informed decision
on whether to withdraw or proceed with their application. The subcommittee granted the adjournment, with a new hearing provisionally scheduled for April 15, 2026.
The application had attracted representations from several responsible authorities. The council's Licensing Team raised concerns about crime and disorder and public nuisance, particularly regarding a proposed smoking area and the lack of food provision during licensable hours, suggesting the application leaned towards a nightclub. Commercial Environmental Health also expressed concerns about noise and anti-social behaviour from customers leaving the venue late at night, given the proximity to residential properties.
While R3 Restaurant stated that Clear signage will be displayed requesting customers to respect neighbours noise to a minimum
and that No drinks or glassware will be taken outside,
and music will be controlled via a sound limiter to prevent noise nuisance
with doors and windows will remain closed when music is played, except for access and egress,
the specific details on how noise and nuisance from customer dispersal will be minimised beyond these measures are not fully elaborated upon.
The Planning Team highlighted the extant enforcement notice, stating that operating as a bar or club would likely require planning permission. The Planning Inspectorate had previously found that the previous use of the premises as a drinking establishment had an adverse effect on residents' health, the aural environment, and general living conditions. This was due to unacceptable levels of noise and disturbance,
an unneighbourly increase in noise and disturbance which is having an adverse effect upon health, the environment and general amenities of the area, particularly at times when levels of ambient noise in the vicinity are low,
and a change to the pattern of movements inside and outside the premises.
The premises previously held a licence for R3 Lounge Ltd, which was suspended in November 2025 due to unpaid annual fees.
Further details on the licensing procedure can be found in the Licensing procedure document. The full reports pack for the hearing is available here.
