A popular fried chicken restaurant on Edgware Road had applied for a 3am licence but objectors fear it could attract pickpockets to the area.
Pepe’s Piri Piri said it will hire more security staff and install CCTV cameras inside and out of the shop to “deter any criminal activities and antisocial behaviours”, according to an application before Westminster City Council.
It has also hit back at claims the busy takeaway will create extra noise at night saying the shop is located on an “already all-night busy road”.
Pepe’s also said it does not serve alcohol and will implement a zero tolerance policy for drink and drug consumption on the premises.
Pepe’s Edgware Road diner currently closes at midnight on a Friday and Saturday and between 10.30pm and 11.30pm the rest of the week.
Following a wave of objections, Pepe’s agreed to reduce its requested opening time to 3am from 4am and hire security-trained staff to work from 10pm to close. It has also promised to supervise delivery drivers via an internal pick-up system and ban congregation or idling outside. Staff will conduct clean-up patrols every 30 minutes in the surrounding area from 11pm.
But objectors say the late-night licence does not promote local licensing objectives. The Hyde Park Estate Association called for deliveries to end at 11pm and quoted the police saying later opening hours lead to a higher crime rate because customers become a target for thieves.
The association said the area had a high resident count with many being disturbed by car doors banging, engines left running late at night and people shouting.
Marylebone ward councillors said the application was “way past core hours” in the area which they said already suffered from crime and antisocial behaviour.
They wrote: “It would become a destination point for those that have been drinking, with cars parking in residential streets with all that ensues with car doors banging, revving of engines and people talking loudly on mobile phones.”
The Marylebone Association said the application harmed licensing objectives like the prevention of public nuisance and crime and disorder. They wrote: “The area is already plagued by delivery drivers and late-night customers who are often intoxicated, and we note that similar applications have been refused on the above grounds, and a 4am venue will only add to this.”
They claimed there are in excess of 1,000 residential dwellings within 150m of the premises. There is also a McDonald’s opposite that has a late refreshment licence.
Westminster City Council will consider the application during a licensing meeting on Thursday, July 10.
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