Sidcup Restaurant Worker Ban Upheld to Protect Female Patrons
A Sidcup restaurant has been denied the opportunity to reinstate a banned employee after police authorities argued the prohibition was essential for safeguarding women and girls. The Licensing Sub-Committee of Bexley Council rejected the appeal from Greek Meze 2, located at 299 Main Road in Sidcup, following compelling evidence presented by the Metropolitan Police.
Police Evidence Highlights Serious Concerns
Police Constable Kate Ellen, representing the Metropolitan Police, provided detailed testimony regarding the conduct of employee Niko Ntiso. According to PC Ellen, police had received multiple serious complaints about Mr. Ntiso's behavior, which included forcibly pouring alcoholic drinks directly into customers' mouths and physically grabbing female patrons on numerous occasions. She emphasized that these actions made women feel uncomfortable and unsafe during their visits.
PC Ellen reported that Greek Meze 2 was the only restaurant in the entire borough of Bexley to receive such police complaints, all of which were linked specifically to Mr. Ntiso. She stated that despite repeated police interventions following each incident, Mr. Ntiso continued to demonstrate inappropriate behavior, leading to the initial ban imposed in February 2025.
Restaurant's Appeal and Defense
Greek Meze 2 applied to have the ban lifted less than a year later, citing significant operational changes and Mr. Ntiso's completion of conflict management training along with welfare and vulnerability engagement training. The restaurant's legal representative, Elif Goksal, argued that all complaints against Mr. Ntiso had been investigated without resulting in any police action, and she contended that a permanent ban was neither necessary nor proportionate.
Ms. Goksal also presented a petition with 3,000 signatures from customers advocating for Mr. Ntiso's return, a substantial increase from the 300 signatures mentioned in the original premises licence application. She maintained that Mr. Ntiso had received two DBS checks and had no convictions, cautions, or written warnings on his record.
Owner's Plea and Economic Impact
Leonard Truni, the premises licence holder for Greek Meze 2, testified that Mr. Ntiso had learned his lesson and was a changed man. He claimed that the petition was initiated by customers who wanted him back, not by the restaurant itself, and denied allegations that customers were pressured or bribed with free shots to sign it.
Mr. Truni further revealed that the restaurant's takings had declined by 50 percent since Mr. Ntiso's ban, warning that the business would likely close if he was not allowed to return. This economic argument was a central point in the restaurant's appeal to the committee.
Committee's Decision and Rationale
The Licensing Sub-Committee heard evidence from three character witnesses who spoke positively about Mr. Ntiso, with one customer asserting that people signed the petition voluntarily because everyone loves him. However, after deliberating for 20 minutes, the committee decided to uphold the ban.
Committee members expressed that they were not persuaded by the evidence presented by the applicant that they could be assured Mr. Ntiso would not engage in the type of behavior that led to the original condition being imposed. They emphasized the importance of protecting female customers who wish to have a nice night out without being grabbed, plied with alcohol, or manhandled.
PC Ellen reinforced this stance, stating that Mr. Ntiso had burned his bridges and proved time and again that he could not be trusted at this venue. She noted that since the ban was enforced, police had received no further complaints about the restaurant, indicating its effectiveness. She concluded that no amount of training would likely make him learn from his mistakes, making the ban necessary to protect women and girls.
