Police concerned about new night-spot after owner’s bar showed ‘complete disregard’ for Covid rules

By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter 

A businessman whose South London bar broke Covid rules has had his bid to open a second late night venue next door accepted.

Southwark council approved George Nwachukwa’s request to open 100-person venue, The Executive Lounge, next to his existing bar on the Old Kent Road in Southwark.

The entrepreneur’s new night-spot will serve East African food and alcohol to wedding and birthday parties from 11am until 11pm on weekends.

Police previously found punters dancing and not wearing facemasks during a spotcheck of his other venue, The Empire Lounge, while social distancing rules were still in place.

Objecting to the licence, PC Ian Clements said: “I have concerns that the director of the company applying for this licence has previously shown a complete disregard for the licensing objectives whilst operating his current premises, which adjoins this new one.

“His suitability as a responsible operator has been called into question. Taking all the above into consideration I have to recommend that this application is refused on the grounds that if granted it would undermine the licensing objectives.”

But Southwark Council approved the application at a meeting on December 9 provided that Mr Nwachuwa remove a connecting door between the two venues.

The late night restaurant will be allowed to open until 11pm on weekdays and 11:30pm on weekends, with extended opening hours on special holidays like New Year’s Eve.

David Dadds, representing Mr Nwachukwa, said the businessman’s renovation of the disused premises would create eight new jobs.

He said: “George should be commended as a local person trying to do his best.

“We are happy to have a noise limiting device and we have done sound-proofing so there will be no complaint from any residents of music escaping from our premises.

“It does predominately functions, birthday parties. It’s food-led premises. It’s not a nightclub. Alcohol has to be served ancillary to the food.”

Officers found Mr Nwachukwa’s other venue, The Empire Lounge, breaking Covid-19 rules during two visits earlier this year.

He was given a verbal warning after the first spotcheck on May 28.

Officers returned on July 12 and issued him with a £1,000 fine after they found groups of people dancing without face masks on, despite Covid rules only allowing table service at the time.