The owner of Harley's Butchery and Rotisserie in Hampstead says he feels "persecuted" and has lost £20,000 in revenue amid complaints about smells and noise from his burger stand. James Widdowson, who grew up in the area, opened the shop last summer, styling it as a "traditional English butcher shop with a Basque twist." The business supplies specialist poultry and red meat, including venison wrapped in spinach, alongside hot roasted chicken and smash burgers.
However, the venture has drawn objections from Hampstead Town Councillor Stephen Stark (Conservative), who urged the licensing panel to reject changes until the "foul smell" was dealt with. Complaints from neighbours about the "dreadful and far-reaching" odour and noise from the stand have led to what Widdowson describes as an "agenda to remove any activity in Hampstead that doesn't suit a certain way."
Licensing hearing and objections
Widdowson sought permission from Camden Council to serve alcohol on the premises and extend off-sale hours to between 9am and 9.30pm daily. At a licensing hearing last month, Cllr Stark cited late-night noise, anti-social behaviour, and the "open barbecue" as reasons for objection. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), he said residents in Oriel Place, including a gym above the shop, were disturbed by whiffs of hot fat cooking. He added that the stand was a public safety issue.
Although acknowledging the "barbecue" is technically an electric hot plate grill with no open flames or coal, Cllr Stark said there was "no way of telling if it's hot or cold." He claimed: "It's left open to the public. Small children are running around there, and anyone could touch it and scald themselves." He also noted that a sick elderly woman and her husband were "suffering" from the odour entering their windows left open during summer heatwaves. The councillor suggested the butchery should have a doorman like the pub opposite to prevent customers taking alcohol into a nearby park. Aside from Cllr Stark's objections, the council received no formal complaints.
Owner's response and financial impact
Widdowson told the LDRS he takes child safety seriously and has installed a series of measures to the stand, including a heatproof barrier, a danger warning sign, a rubber floor mat, a sneeze guard, pest-proofing, and internal brickwork wiring. He said the scrutiny has taken a serious emotional and financial toll. "We're under the magnifying glass," he said. "When I come to the shop now, I'm full of anxiety because I'm thinking: 'What's going to happen now?'"
On the day of the hearing, officers told him he had to clear street tables and chairs from the pavement because his separate licence for this was not yet approved. This has cost him £20,000 in revenue so far, forcing him to lay off several part-time workers. "It was devastating," he said. "I didn't think opening a new business was going to be as tough as it has been. At the time, part of me thought maybe it is just too much. But this is my passion."
Council decision and next steps
The council ultimately backed the butcher's request for on-sale and off-sale alcohol, clarifying that complaints over the burger's smell were not a licensing matter. Harley's now waits to see if the council will grant its pavement licence. The deadline for public representations over this is October 7. Widdowson said: "I've been on a steep learning curve of hospitality, and it's been fantastic. But I also feel like people who could have supported my business going forward have worked against it. It does not feel constructive."
