Complaints lead to booze ban on Greenwich restaurant

BY YANN TEAR
yann@slpmedia.co.uk

A Greenwich restaurant can no longer serve alcohol after repeatedly staying open late and keeping neighbours awake.

C’s, in Blackheath Road, lost its licence at a meeting of the council’s Licensing Review Sub-Committee on January 9, after representations were made by residents, the police and licensing officers.

The premises was the subject of 43 complaints from neighbours between January and October last year, with the council carrying out inspections, as well as warning the licensee, Vincent Phil-Ebosie, to improve the situation on three occasions.

In May, he agreed an action plan with the council to comply with the conditions of the licence to sell alcohol ostensibly with food, but by August, fresh complaints indicated there was a failure to comply with the guidelines.

Late-night inspections by licensing officers during October and November upheld the views of some neighbours, who complained of loud music and shouting going on until nearly 4am.

Councillor Jackie Smith, cabinet member for community safety and integrated enforcement, said: “In this case, the premises was breaching the terms of its licence and making life considerably uncomfortable for neighbouring residents, to whom we’re very grateful for making their views known to the committee.

“The message is very clear – if you don’t keep to the conditions of your licence, you’ll lose it.”

Mr Phil-Ebosie can appeal within 21 days of receiving the written decisions, although in the interim the premises’ licence remains suspended.

The latest licence clampdown highlights the council’s determination to get tough with restaurants and supermarkets failing to control alcohol sales and antisocial behaviour.

Two other businesses in the borough have recently been targeted by enforcement officers.

Jatra Cuisine (also known as Hamro Chautari), in Plumstead High Street, and Euro Food and Wine, Plumstead Road, were prevented from selling alcohol at a meeting of the licensing sub-committee last month.

A fight involving a knife outside Jatra Cuisine, and the selling of high-strength alcohol outside permitted hours at Euro Food and Wine led to their licence suspensions.