Selekt Chicken on North End Road in Fulham has been granted later opening hours despite more than 40 objections from residents and opposition from the council's own licensing team. The takeaway, which had initially sought permission to open until midnight on weekdays and 1am on weekends, was issued a six-month licence to open until 11pm Sunday to Wednesday and 11:30pm Thursday to Saturday.
Application scaled back after police concerns
The premises amended its application ahead of a Hammersmith and Fulham Council Licensing Sub-Committee meeting, reducing the proposed hours and limiting deliveries after midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. This followed correspondence with the Met Police. Despite these changes, the council's Noise and Nuisance team, Licensing department, and over 40 residents maintained their objections.
John Garcia, a Nuisance Investigator for the council, wrote in his representation that the premises is located in "a mixed residential and commercial area" and that extending late-night activity would likely cause "significant disturbance."
Local councillor and residents voice concerns
Local Labour councillor Lydia Paynter objected, stating: "This is a densely residential area, where residents already report that restaurant operations, including takeaway and delivery, disrupt sleep, create nuisance, excess littering and contribute to antisocial behaviour. I do not believe this application supports the licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of public nuisance."
A representation from Vanston Place Management Company, which manages 42 apartments in nearby Dungannon House, noted that the increase in delivery drivers is "proving taxing" for the building. The company wrote: "Although we have CCTV this doesn't seem to stop them. Although hard to prove it does appear that more often than not, the culprits are delivery drivers, who presumably have nowhere else to relieve themselves. It is well documented that this area is a hot spot for antisocial behaviour, and the police are having a hard time to improve the situation, an increase in hours from this business will only add to their problems, not lessen them."
Residents describe worsening conditions at night
At the sub-committee meeting, Cllr Sam Kelly, representing Walham Green ward, said residents have consistently raised concerns about disturbance. He added that the proposed amendments did not mitigate potential impacts, and that the premises is in a neighbourhood "where residents don't have a choice of just avoiding the area if they want to get to their house."
Yann Prissette, a resident speaking on behalf of another local, said every issue raised gets worse as the night goes on: "I suffer from the noise from delivery mopeds arriving and idling, riders congregating outside, talking on speakerphone. There's extraction fans running, sometimes food orders, we have litter left in the street, we have vibrations as well from the vans, we have delivery trucks, rubbish trucks and I have also witnessed drug use as well in my alleyway. And things do get worse at night."
Another resident, Henry Blomfield, referenced data indicating North End Road is one of 24 "heavily impacted" streets in the borough. He said: "Roughly a third of reported crime and nuisance in just two per cent of streets, of which North End Road is included. That is significant and as a resident you can feel that just living around it and it gets particularly bad at night."
Applicant defends need for later hours
Zalkay Hazarbuz, Manager at Selekt Chicken, asked the committee to consider the "significant steps" taken by the applicant, adding that the 1am request was being withdrawn and that the premises would work closely with the police. In a letter filed with the council, applicant Ahmad Farid Sultan wrote that later opening hours are "important for the effective running of the business. It allows us sufficient time to complete cleaning procedures, manage stock responsibly and reduce unnecessary food waste. The current restrictions have a significant financial impact on the business and can result in food that has already been prepared being wasted unnecessarily."
During the meeting, there was confusion over the requested hours. Mr Hazarbuz disavowed the shop's online Google listing, which he claimed was incorrectly changed to suggest 24/7 opening. "We are not open 24 hours," he said. "What I can promise is from 11pm we will stop delivery."
Licensing team expresses surprise
Adrian Overton, Licensing Team Manager at the council, reiterated that the premises is in "a very noise-sensitive area" with a history of disturbance. He added that he found it "surprising" that the applicant said they would only expect a couple of deliveries in the last hour. "I can't quite get my head around that."
Councillors deliberated in private for almost an hour before returning. Chair of the sub-committee, Cllr Mercy Umeh, announced the granting of the application with reduced hours and five further conditions. These include completing two litter picks a day, the licence expiring in six months, and signs asking patrons to dispose of waste in litter bins.
