A restaurant in Romford which replaced a business where there were concerns about "modern-day slavery" has been blocked from selling alcohol.
Havering Council's licensing sub-committee refused an application from The Triangle to supply alcohol, play live and recorded music, and provide late night refreshments at its hearing on Friday (June 5).
The new venue in North Street replaced Neyzen Restaurant, which itself was stripped of its premises licence in March after Home Office immigration officers found illegal working at the site and a shed which raised "suspicion of modern-day slavery".
Previous premises licence holder for Neyzen, Badrul Haque, remained as leaseholder for the property after the restaurant's closure but insisted he has "no interest or involvement in the current restaurant, The Triangle".
However, a representative for residents who objected to the licence asked at the hearing on Friday "whether there has been a genuine break from the arrangements that previously gave rise to serious concern".
He said: "The applicant presents this as a restaurant operating under new management - residents' experience of this premises is very different.
"Representations describe weddings, Mehndi celebrations, parties and large private functions that have generated significant impacts upon neighbouring homes and the wider residential area.
"This is a destination venue.
"The question for the committee is this: what has materially changed that should give members confidence that the licensing objectives will be promoted, and that the problems repeatedly identified by residents will not continue?"
He went on to describe issues raised by residents in their representations, including "late-night disorder", fireworks being "discharged in the roadway", and "public urination".
Applicant Anam Hussain attended the meeting but declined to respond to residents' representations or make his own case for the licence.
When asked by committee members what his role was at The Triangle, he said he was the "manager" but had no previous experience running a restaurant.
Mr Hussain has not responded to the Recorder's request for a further comment.
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