Ealing Council's licensing subcommittee has rejected a bid by Hot Birdies, a Nashville hot chicken restaurant in Southall, to extend its operating hours until 2am daily. The decision came during a hearing on Wednesday, July 22, which the applicant did not attend.
Application details and police conditions
Hot Birdies, located at 150 The Broadway, Southall, currently operates from 11:30am to 11pm. The restaurant, described as "the UK's go-to destination for Nashville Hot Chicken," sought permission to remain open until 2am, seven days a week. The premises are situated below a block of flats.
Following consultation with the Metropolitan Police, the applicant agreed to a series of conditions aimed at ensuring public safety and preventing crime. These included 31-day recording CCTV systems with immediate playback capabilities, mandatory trained staff on duty at all times, public warning signage, and an inspection-ready incident register. As a result, Metropolitan Police Licensing Officers confirmed they had no objections to the application.
Resident objections
Despite police support, a local resident, Ms Hanan Mussa, objected to the plans, raising concerns about public nuisance, crime, and disorder. She argued that allowing a fast food business to operate late at night would create "unmanageable noise disruption" when families are trying to sleep.
Ms Mussa added: "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… The area surrounding The Broadway is already heavily saturated with commercial activity, and extending operations to a late night schedule pushes the balance away from community wellbeing. For the peace, safety, and health of Southall residents, I respectfully request that Ealing Council refuse this late night licence application."
Committee decision
The subcommittee, comprising Councillor Kim Kaur Nagpal (Lab), who chaired the meeting, alongside Cllr Charan Sharma (Lab) and Cllr Connie Hersch (Lib Dem), returned a unanimous decision to reject the application.
Cllr Nagpal stated: "The subcommittee are not satisfied that the applicant, through its representative, demonstrated a sufficient knowledge or understanding of the particular sensitivities of this location… or the issues associated with late night activity in Southall. The subcommittee are also concerned that the applicant was not present at the hearing, and that there was no evidence of operational experience in providing late night refreshment beyond 11pm. The answers given did not reassure the subcommittee that the applicant had sufficient systems, policies, or practical measures in place to promote the licensing objectives."
She further noted: "The subcommittee gave weight to the residents' concerns about late night noise, delivery riders, customer dispersal, litter, and the impact on residents, particularly as there is residential accommodation above the premises. The subcommittee was not satisfied that these concerns had been adequately addressed… Whilst we acknowledge the applicant's representatives willingness to work with the council and agree to additional conditions, when considering whether additional conditions could address these concerns, we concluded that conditions would not be sufficient."
