A Brazilian restaurant in Bounds Green has been granted a licence to sell alcohol with “strict conditions” designed to protect residents.
Councillors in Haringey agreed to award the licence to Rancho Brazil at 2 Queens Parade, Brownlow Road, after concluding “all parties” would benefit.
The decision means the venue will be allowed to open from 10am to 11pm every day and sell alcohol until 10.30pm. It will not be permitted to play live or recorded music, while background music must not be louder than “speaking volume” and be turned off half-an-hour before closing time.
Last week, a family living above the premises told Haringey Council’s licensing subcommittee they had endured almost 20 years of loud music, drunk and disorderly behaviour and other problems while the premises was under different ownership. They said they feared the problems would continue, pointing out they had complained twice about noise to the current owners.
The applicant’s agent, Manuel Rocha, said most of the family’s objections were “nothing to do with this business” and that awarding the licence would give the owners more control over alcohol sales.
In a decision notice published on Tuesday, the committee acknowledged the two noise complaints but said they were “within the permitted hours and stopped shortly after it was notified to the licence holder within a reasonable period of time”.
It added: “The committee also found that the business is already operating as a restaurant and there was potential for customers to bring their own alcohol, [and] congregate outside the premises without restrictions. As such, the premises and all parties concerned would benefit from the grant of the licence with strict conditions as stated above.
“The committee is of the view that an appropriate balance has been struck between the wishes of the applicant, the objections of local residents and the overriding licensing objectives with the conditions proposed.”
Conditions attached to the licence include requirements to operate a ‘Challenge 25’ proof-of-age scheme, install a CCTV system, only provide table service and discourage customers from smoking in front of the premises. The committee’s decision is subject to a 21-day appeal period.
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