Southall Chicken Shop Denied Extended Hours After Applicant No-Show at Hearing

A fast food establishment in West London has had its request to extend operating hours beyond 11pm turned down. The licensing subcommittee of Ealing Council made this decision during a hearing on Wednesday, July 22, after the applicant failed to attend the meeting. Hot Birdies, situated at 150 The Broadway in Southall, had aimed to remain open until 2am every day of the week. Currently, the restaurant operates from 11:30am to 11pm daily and is known as “the UK’s go-to destination for Nashville Hot Chicken.”

This establishment is located beneath a residential block, and following discussions with the Metropolitan Police, the applicant agreed to implement a robust set of public safety and crime prevention measures. These included the installation of a 31-day recording CCTV system with immediate playback capabilities, the presence of trained staff at all times, public warning signage, and an incident register that is ready for inspection. Consequently, the Metropolitan Police Licensing Officers indicated they had no objections to the application.

Community Concerns About Late-Night Operations

However, a local resident raised objections, highlighting concerns regarding potential public nuisance, crime, and disorder. Ms Hanan Mussa expressed that permitting a fast food outlet to operate late at night would lead to “unmanageable noise disruption” for families attempting to sleep. She remarked, “Late-night hot food venues frequently act as gathering points for individuals leaving nearby pubs. This accumulation of crowds late at night historically escalates anti-social behaviour, verbal disputes, and general street disorder, compromising the safety of our neighbourhood.”

Ms Mussa further argued that the area surrounding The Broadway is already heavily saturated with commercial activity, and extending the hours of operation would detract from community welfare. She concluded her statement by urging Ealing Council to reject the late-night licence application for the benefit of peace, safety, and health of Southall residents.

Councillors’ Assessment and Decision

The committee overseeing the decision comprised three councillors, with Councillor Kim Kaur Nagpal (Labour) presiding over the meeting, alongside Cllr Charan Sharma (Labour) and Cllr Connie Hersch (Liberal Democrats). Upon announcing the verdict, Cllr Nagpal stated, “The subcommittee is not satisfied that the applicant, through its representative, demonstrated sufficient knowledge or understanding of the particular sensitivities of this location or the issues associated with late-night activity in Southall.”

She noted the committee’s concerns regarding the absence of the applicant at the hearing and the lack of evidence showcasing operational experience in providing late-night refreshments. The responses provided did not assure the subcommittee that the applicant had adequate systems, policies, or practical measures in place to uphold the licensing objectives.

The subcommittee acknowledged the residents’ worries regarding late-night noise, delivery drivers, customer dispersal, litter, and the overall impact on local residents, especially given the residential units above the premises. Ultimately, they concluded that these concerns had not been satisfactorily addressed. “While we recognise the applicant’s representatives’ willingness to cooperate with the council and agree to additional conditions, we determined that such conditions would not sufficiently mitigate these concerns,” Cllr Nagpal added.

If you have a story to share, please contact philip.lynch@reachplc.com or reach out to @pjlynchjourno on X. Stay informed with the latest news from West London by signing up for the MyWestLondon newsletter for daily updates and more.