A new restaurant is set to open in West London after the Ealing Council Licensing subcommittee approved the application on Wednesday, May 7. The North Acton venue will also serve alcohol and provide live music until 1am on weekends.
The new restaurant, Casa, will be on 165 Dukes Road, in the same venue that was previously a shisha lounge. The new operator has no connection with the previous operators and told the committee that it had invested over £200,000 into improving the venue.
The new operator is a company named ‘Ghost Hospitality Group’ which is directed by Arshad Iftikhar. However, the ‘upmarket’ sushi restaurant will be managed by an experienced restaurateur, who manages a venue in Chertsey.
Several objections were raised by residents and councillors, mainly concerned with the potential for noise. One resident told the committee that they have 'been suffering for 14 years' under different operators of the venue due to noise.
In efforts to put residents at ease, the new operator has added sound limiters to reduce noise pollution and a roof to the previous outdoor areas to prevent disturbing residents that live only 45 meters away.
The previous venue was a shisha bar, which by law had to be at least 50 per cent open, which residents told the committee caused a disturbance due to their proximity to the bar.
Hangar Hill Councillor Jonathan Oxley objected to the application on several grounds. He told the committee he found the location, which is on an industrial site and 45 meters from homes, to be 'very strange'.
He added: “I know that many of the residents do have young children, some trying to study. It really can not be right that there is a restaurant 45 meters from there playing loud music with loud people.”
Representatives for Casa reiterated the restaurant's commitment to fostering a healthy relationship with locals. Mr Samaru, a consultant for Ghost Hospitality Group, said he 'sympathised' with residents, but reminded them that the operators have no connection to the previous management.
Initially, Casa sought a licence allowing the restaurant to be open until 3am on weekends, with live music and alcohol served until 2am. However, after concerns raised by residents and councillors, representatives for the restaurant offered to reduce the hours.
The subcommittee granted the license to operate as members were “convinced” by the operator. The restaurant will open until 1.30am on Friday and Saturday, and until 1am Sunday through Thursday.
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