A kebab shop owner has applied to the council to be allowed to trade until 1am by operating for dine-in customers only and offering deliveries.
But the Lebanese Grill, at 62 Queen’s Road, Brighton, would not sell takeaways for collection to keep the application compliant with Brighton and Hove City Council’s licensing policies.
The licensing rules generally allow restaurants to stay open until 1am but not takeaways.
The application from Bahaaeldin Abdelalim, 44, was his fifth seeking later opening hours. Previously, he applied to stay open until 3am and 5am for takeaways when the premises traded as Station Grill.
At a licensing panel hearing hearing today (Thursday 6 August), Mr Abdelalim’s representative, Graham Hopkins, of GT Licensing Consultants, said that the proposed 1am closing time would allow 30 minutes for customers to leave. Outdoor seating would be brought inside at 11pm.
Mr Hopkins said: “It’s been agreed that no customer collections would take place after 11pm and that the reason is to stop people loitering outside, making noise, causing disturbance or anti-social behaviour.
“We felt that’s appropriate to agree with the police and the licensing authority on that point.
“No alcohol is sold at Lebanese Grill nor are customers permitted to take their own into the restaurant or consume it on the premises at any time.”
Mr Hopkins said that there were 25 covers inside the restaurant and Mr Abdelalim said that about 10 per cent of his business consisted of takeaways sold before 11pm.
All deliveries would be to a named home or business address, not outdoor areas.
A rival business, understood to be Albion Kebab, objected to the application but did not attend the licensing panel hearing.
The objection cited smells from charcoal grilling, increased noise, litter and anti-social behaviour.
Sussex Police and the council’s licensing team did not object to the application because it complied with policy.
Draft conditions were agreed before the panel hearing. They would require hot food to be wrapped and unavailable to eat by a customer on leaving the premises. And delivery drivers must show their faces in areas covered by security cameras.
Licensed door staff would have to be employed as and when requested by Sussex Police in writing at least 48 hours in advance or through the owner’s written risk assessment.
Such times would be expected to include bank holidays, Pride, music events and football.
The panel – councillors John Hewitt, Ivan Lyons and Paul Nann – retired to make their decision which should be made public within five working days.
