A West London pizzeria has been forced to close after a council licensing committee revoked its alcohol licence following a series of serious breaches, including serving booze until 3:30am and staff behaving aggressively towards police and inspectors.
A Catalogue of Failings
Westminster City Council's licensing committee made the decision to revoke the licence for Mangia Tutto on Bishop's Bridge Road at a meeting on Thursday, November 6. The committee concluded that the management showed a clear inability to uphold fundamental licensing objectives.
The premises was found to have breached 'numerous' licensing conditions. A critical issue was the apparent lack of genuine supervision, as the official licence holder and the Designated Premises Supervisor seemed to have no actual connection to the day-to-day operation of the business.
Aggression, Crime, and Filth
Representing the Metropolitan Police, lawyer Gabriel Nelson informed the committee that staff at the Italian diner became 'obstructive and uncooperative' with authorities. On one occasion, they allegedly attempted to intimidate officers by calling bouncers to the scene.
Mr Nelson stated that police had received multiple reports of criminal activity linked to the venue, including:
- Fights and assaults on bailiffs
- Drug dealing on the premises
- Potential connections to organised crime
The problems were not limited to crime. A senior council health and safety officer reported discovering mouse droppings and a dead mouse beneath a fridge during an inspection. Inspectors also found out-of-date pasta and sausages, alongside generally poor cleaning standards. When a formal notice was issued, staff simply removed it.
The Final Straws
According to a council report, the most blatant breach occurred on August 25 during the Notting Hill Carnival period. Council inspectors found customers still eating and drinking outside the pizzeria at 3:30am—three and a half hours after its licensed closing time.
When challenged, a male staff member became 'hostile' and refused to provide details or show the premises licence. Boxes of Heineken, Corona, and Magners were found on sale outside, which the man claimed were for his personal consumption.
A subsequent police visit on September 12 saw a man becoming 'argumentative and aggressive'. Staff refused to provide details and could not operate the CCTV system, a legal requirement. Another man, who arrived claiming to be security, was described as intimidating and refused to answer questions about the premises.
No Faith in Management
In its written decision, the committee stated it had considered lesser measures but had no faith that the licence holder would uphold the law. The revocation was deemed 'necessary, appropriate and proportionate'.
Neither the licence holder nor any representatives from Mangia Tutto attended the crucial meeting to defend the business. Police and council officers noted that despite attempts to contact potential new owners, no one has responded. The premises is currently shut for renovations.
