Woolwich African Restaurant Subject to New Noise Restrictions Following Neighbour's Grievances
An African restaurant and bar located in the heart of Woolwich town centre has been compelled to implement additional noise control measures after a local resident raised concerns about disruptive late-night activities. Greenwich Council has officially mandated a new noise management strategy for Chichi Dishes, situated at 29 to 31 Hare Street, following a thorough review by its Licensing Review Sub-Committee on January 19.
Persistent Complaints from a Hare Street Resident
The council's intervention was triggered by an application from Polina Sasinovich, a resident of Hare Street, who sought a review of the restaurant's licence due to ongoing noise issues. Ms Sasinovich detailed instances of loud music persisting into the early hours, with one event reportedly continuing until 5am. She also described scenes of patrons congregating outside the venue, creating disturbances with shouting and the sound of breaking glass bottles.
"They're drunk, they're standing at the entrance of the bar and they're just screaming at midnight, 1am, 2am etc.," Ms Sasinovich informed the committee during the proceedings. Her application highlighted a particular incident in August where an estimated 40 to 50 individuals were gathered outside the premises, exacerbating the noise problem.
Council's Extensive Monitoring and Findings
In response to these allegations, Greenwich Council's community protection team conducted an extensive monitoring campaign. Victor Omoke, a member of the team, revealed that officers made at least 21 visits to Chichi Dishes to assess noise levels, marking it as the most inspected venue in the borough during that period.
Interestingly, Mr Omoke reported that on the majority of these visits, the noise levels were deemed acceptable and within satisfactory limits. This discrepancy between the resident's complaints and the council's findings added a layer of complexity to the case.
Restaurant Owner's Response and Mitigation Efforts
Sophie Okoye, the owner and premises licence holder of Chichi Dishes, expressed her commitment to addressing neighbourly concerns. "I didn't want anyone to suffer disturbance because of my business," she stated, emphasising her proactive approach to noise management.
Ms Okoye pointed out that over the restaurant's seven-year operation, no residents living directly above the premises had lodged complaints. She also noted that Ms Sasinovich was the sole Hare Street resident to formally object in this instance. To mitigate noise, Ms Okoye had already instituted strict volume controls, ensured windows were closed during late hours, and directed staff to discourage customer loitering and littering.
Regarding the August incident, Ms Okoye clarified that it was an anomaly and not representative of the venue's standard operations. She assured the committee that subsequent private events have been subject to rigorous attendance and noise restrictions. A police officer confirmed that five complaints related to that incident were filed, all originating from Ms Sasinovich.
Council's Final Ruling and New Requirements
The Licensing Review Sub-Committee ultimately ruled in favour of imposing stricter conditions on Chichi Dishes. The key requirements include:
- Implementation of a comprehensive noise management plan.
- Installation of a noise limiter device to prevent sound levels from exceeding acceptable thresholds.
- Adoption of a new dispersal policy, mandating staff to monitor external areas to deter customer loitering during and after operating hours.
These measures are designed to balance the restaurant's operational needs with the community's right to peace and quiet, ensuring that no noise nuisance is caused to local residents or neighbouring businesses. The case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by hospitality venues in urban areas, where commercial vitality must coexist with residential tranquillity.
