Highgate restaurant's 5am opening plans blocked by councillors

Bombay Rickshaw has been given permission to open until 3am on weekends but not as late as the 5am time it applied for, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

A Highgate takeaway’s plans to open as late as 5am on weekends have failed to win the backing of councillors.

Kamal Hussin, who runs Indian restaurant Bombay Rickshaw in Archway Road, has been granted a licence to deliver takeaways from a nearby outlet – formerly Fabio’s Kitchen – until 3am on weekends and 2am on weekdays.

Kamal applied for a licence to operate deliveries until 5am on weekends and 3am on weekdays, with the front counter of the restaurant closing two-and-a-half hours earlier. He pledged to ensure deliveries were only made to people’s home addresses, not to people standing on the street.

But after hearing his arguments and an objection from Highgate Society earlier this month, Haringey Council’s licensing subcommittee noted his request was “not in keeping with the closing times for other, similar businesses in the area”.

The committee said noise from mopeds and delivery drivers would have an impact on residential streets, and that “there remained the possibility that people can simply use an address on the road they are standing on to accept delivery”.

Although the applicant said delivery drivers would have access to toilets and a security guard would ensure people did not “hang around” the restaurant, the committee said it had “reservations” about a back-up plan to use the local McDonalds as a waiting stop for the drivers.

The takeaway will be allowed to operate an over-the-counter service until 2.30am on weekends and 12.30am on weekdays.

A series of conditions has also been attached to the licence to ensure residents are not disturbed by noise.

The committee’s decision is subject to a 21-day appeal period before it can take effect.

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