Police object to Tottenham shisha lounge's bid to sell alcohol until 2am

Officer tells Haringey Council licensing meeting of fears over possible “increase in public nuisance and crime and disorder to the local area”, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

Lily White Sandwich Bar in Tottenham High Road (credit Google)

A sandwich bar and shisha lounge in Tottenham is seeking a licence to sell alcohol despite police concerns over crime and disorder.

Andebrhan Tekeste, who manages Lily White Sandwich Bar and Shisha Lounge, has applied for a licence to sell alcohol from the premises on 799 High Road opposite Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Shisha bars do not require a licence for the sale and consumption of shisha alone. Licensing is required, however, when other associated activities such as the sale of alcohol or hot food are undertaken.

Addressing Haringey’s licensing sub-committee on Monday (3rd) Andebrhan said the sale of alcohol, particularly on match days, was “necessary” to keep his business afloat and compete with other bars in the area.

The applicant had previously sought to close at 4am on Friday and Saturday, 2am from Monday to Thursday, and at midnight on Sunday.

However, objections from the Metropolitan Police and the council’s noise and nuisance team led to Andebrhan proposing a midnight close for Sunday to Thursday and a 2am close on Friday and Saturday, with alcohol sales finishing 30 minutes prior.

PC Adriana Costache said: “I do believe there are residential properties above the premises and allowing the premises to remain open until 4am which was the initial time, but even 2am, could cause an increase in public nuisance and crime and disorder to the local area which is already known to the police for antisocial behaviour and violence.”

PC Costache said Bricklayers, a pub a few doors away, operated until 12.30am during the week and until 1.30am on Friday and Saturday highlighting that other premises in the area “ceased their alcohol [sales] much earlier”.

She added the police had been made aware of complaints from residents about “loud music” coming from the premises at “around 1am”.

“The police believe the applicant is already not upholding the licensing objectives and will continue not to, especially with the longer hours,” she said.

Craig Bellringer, a senior noise and nuisance officer, said during a visit to the premises, in the early hours of 17th August, resulted in a noise abatement notice being issued.

He said the team received a “prompt” from a resident and “witnessed the music” and “lights on in the rear area and music audible from inside the resident’s home” and deemed this a “statutory nuisance”.

Craig initially had difficulty gaining entry to Lily White but once inside saw alcoholic drinks in the shisha area as well as a speaker.

Andebrhan, having applied for a temporary event notice for the 4th-5th August, which can be used for up to seven days, said he did not realise the days had to be consecutive.

Committee members also raised concerns around the lack of a completed fire risk assessment which the applicant said had been undertaken several days before the meeting and would be ready to submit “in the next day or two”.

In addition to installing a noise limiter, playing music only on a TV, and no new customers admitted after midnight, the applicant also proposed carrying out further staff training.

Following the nearly two-hour discussion the committee closed the meeting to make a decision in private, which will be published within five working days.

Local news needs your support

We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.