Two linked nail salons in Central London face potential closure after investigations found a "dirty" waxing room, multiple trip hazards and potentially untrained staff. The Nail Garden, which has branches in Soho and Leicester Square, could see one location close within days while a second may shut next February, according to Westminster City Council.
Licensing hearing highlights serious concerns
The issues were discussed at a Westminster City Council Licensing Sub-Committee meeting on Thursday afternoon (September 24), at which councillors were considering whether to renew the licence for the Leicester Square branch. Mr Francis Keegan, representing the licensing authority, recommended the council refuses the application, and suggested the same recommendation could be made when the Soho branch's licence was due for renewal in February 2027.
Mr Keegan told the sub-committee: "[The owner] has had numerous pieces of advice and warnings. She still, to date, has not taken her responsibilities seriously and we have no confidence she is going to do so in the future - our recommendation is that her licence be not renewed."
Inspection findings at both branches
Concerns over the Leicester Square site were first raised at an application to renew the premises licence in January. The council's officers opposed this on the grounds that the venue was being mismanaged and that it was employing people whose identities had not been verified. The sub-committee at that time decided to renew the licence for six months to give the venue time to prove it could comply, giving consideration to the fact that this is the first time concerns had been raised about the business.
A follow-up inspection of the Leicester Square branch found a male trainee, who had no training certificates, working there on June 1. At the same visit Mr Keegan discovered electrical cable trip hazards and two unbracketed fire extinguishers without inspection dates. The owner said that the trainee was only cutting foil, collecting cash, and applying cuticle oil.
During a visit on July 14 to the Soho salon, Mr Keegan found a "dirty" waxing room, fire safety issues and trip hazards. Two therapists who had been giving manicures also fled the venue when the inspectors entered the premises. The salon owner said that she was not sure who they were and that they should not have been working on the premises.
Owner's response and next steps
The owner of the business told the sub-committee that she had since submitted a professional fire safety assessment, evacuation plan and an Electrical Appliance Testing certificate. She had also formally delegated duties to a deputy manager for when she was not able to be on site.
While there is no immediate threat of closure at the Soho site, Mr Keegan told the sub-committee that unless significant changes took place the licensing authority would also oppose its upcoming application for licence renewal in February 2027. A decision will be made on the licence renewal for the Leicester Square site within five working days of the hearing.
