A bid to extend the operating hours of a Hornchurch takeaway has been refused by Havering Council's Licensing Sub-Committee, citing concerns over public safety and nuisance.

King of Wings, located at 57 High Street, Hornchurch, had applied for a premises licence to serve late-night refreshment seven days a week until 3 am. However, the application was rejected following objections from the Metropolitan Police, Havering's Environmental Health and Protection Team, and the council's own Licensing Authority.

The premises is situated within the Hornchurch Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ), an area identified as having a high concentration of licensed premises that may be contributing to issues related to licensing objectives.

PC Ellis Grote of the Metropolitan Police stated that the proposed late hours could lead to intoxicated individuals loitering, causing noise, and increasing the risk of public safety issues and crime. The police raised concerns about the licensing objectives of public safety, prevention of crime and disorder, and prevention of public nuisance.

George Pater from Environmental Health echoed these concerns, noting that the requested hours significantly exceeded the council's licensing policy recommendations for takeaway premises. The council's policy suggests terminal hours of midnight from Sunday to Thursday and 1 am on Fridays and Saturdays for such establishments. Mr. Pater stated, the hours sought are significantly beyond the recommendation of the Council's statement of licensing policy, which advises terminal hours of midnight Sunday to Thursday and 1 a.m. hours Friday to Saturday for takeaway premises. Environmental Health's concerns primarily related to the prevention of public nuisance due to potential noise from customers, delivery drivers, and the premises' extraction system during the early morning hours.

Oisin Daly, representing the Licensing Authority, explained that the Hornchurch CIZ policy creates a presumption against granting new licences that could add to existing cumulative impact, unless exceptional circumstances are demonstrated. He argued that the applicant had not provided sufficient evidence to rebut this presumption. The meeting information does not state that King of Wings argued for specific 'exceptional circumstances'; instead, it notes that the applicant had not provided sufficient evidence to rebut this presumption and that their proposed mitigation measures were considered standard and not exceptional enough to address the concerns within the CIZ.

Mr. Aminur Razzi, manager of King of Wings, had stated that the extended hours were sought to compete with nearby late-night venues. He outlined proposed measures such as CCTV and staff training. King of Wings proposed to operate CCTV with 35 days retention and provide footage to the police or authorized officers when requested. Staff would be fully trained on all license conditions, safety, and how to deal with intoxicated customers, aiming to de-escalate situations. However, the Sub-Committee, along with the responsible authorities, deemed these measures insufficient. Councillor Starnes pointed out that the CCTV and staff training were standard for any premises operating that and nothing in there that is above and beyond that to say how you would mitigate the impact on the community of impact zone.

While the meeting information does not provide a comprehensive list of typical operating hours for all takeaway premises within the Hornchurch CIZ, it does mention that within 100 yards of King of Wings, there are four licensed venues serving alcohol until the early hours on weekends and late at night mid-week. Other premises serving alcohol within the CIZ close by 1 am, with a couple opening until 2 am.

The Sub-Committee, chaired by Councillor Christine Vickery, ultimately decided to refuse the application. The reasons for the refusal will be detailed in a written decision to be sent to the applicant within five working days. The applicant has the right to appeal to the Magistrates' Court within 21 days of receiving this decision.

The provided meeting information does not contain any details about the history of licensing issues or complaints associated with King of Wings prior to this application. Mr. Razzi stated that he had extensive experience within the nighttime economy and had been involved...in the food business before myself and quite long time...running restaurants with late night licensing, but no specific past issues or complaints were mentioned.

Further details on the meeting proceedings can be found in the Public reports pack.