A North London dessert shop’s plan to stay open until 3am on weekends has been described as ‘wholly inappropriate’.
Existing issues with high crime and antisocial behaviour in the area, and concerns that delivery drivers on mopeds in the early hours will disturb residents, have led to opposition from local councillors.
Fat Cat Desserts, located on Park Parade in Harlesden, has applied for a licence to remain open until 2am from Sunday to Thursday, and until 3am on Friday and Saturday. Whilst the small takeaway and delivery shop won’t be selling alcohol, it needs approval from Brent Council’s licensing team to open beyond 11pm as some of the food will be served hot.
The shop has no seating inside for customers, instead it offers desserts including cakes, ice cream, waffles and hot cookie dough, as well as hot and cold drinks, for takeaway and delivery only. Due to the limited space inside, the company claims customers leave the premises after purchasing their food and don’t hang around.
The agent acting on behalf of Fat Cats Desserts, Beyond The Blue Ltd, said: “The premises has operated for four months without incident and feel they now have the operation at a point where they can expand the hours in a responsible way and benefit from the additional number of deliveries that tend to come in later in the evenings.”
However, two local councillors have raised concerns due it being situated in an area of Brent that suffers from ‘antisocial behaviour and other illegal criminal behaviour’.
Councillor for Harlesden and Kensal Green, Jumbo Chan, said he ‘cannot see why a dessert shop would need to open until 2am or 3am’.
He added: “The dessert shop is situated in the particular local context of antisocial behaviour and other illegal criminal behaviour, all of which has been reported and discussed consistently publicly by a variety of stakeholders, including residents, local businesses, the local police and council officers.
“I can foresee how, in this current context, this new premise being granted permission to operate any time after 11pm may likely not only attract, but possibly increase the aforementioned antisocial behaviour and other illegal criminal behaviour.”
Deputy Leader of Brent Council Labour and Councillor for Harlesden and Kensal Green, Mili Patel, agreed that the proposed closing time ‘is excessive’. She added that, given the issues already present in the area, the application is ‘wholly inappropriate’.
The council’s licensing representative has proposed reducing the opening hours until 2am on Friday and Saturday, and until 12am Sunday to Thursday. Although there is no intent to sell alcohol, they feel that business model could cause ‘public nuisance’ as it will contribute to ‘increased foot traffic and noise’.
They said: “A significant concern is the lack of immediate parking availability outside the premises due to double yellow lines. As a result, delivery drivers will likely need to park in nearby residential areas, which could lead to additional congestion and disturbance to local residents, particularly in the evenings and early hours of the morning.
“As such, the potential for noise and disruption during late-night hours is a factor that must be considered carefully in relation to local residents’ well-being and the broader licensing objectives.”
The application will be reviewed by the council’s Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee at an upcoming meeting (February 6) where a decision on whether to grant the licence will be made.
