Noise concerns raised over live music plans for Romford shisha bar

Royal Lounge in Romford. Credit: Havering Council

A Romford shisha bar extending its hours and play live music could increase “noise and disruption,” a Havering councillor has warned.

(Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Sebastian Mann)

The operators of Royal Lounge, in Victoria Road, have applied to Havering Council to push their closing times back into the early hours and bring in live music.

The venue is currently open between 7am and 11pm on Mondays through Wednesdays, and until midnight on Thursdays through Sundays. It closes at 10.30pm on Sundays.

Under the new licence, it would close half an hour later each day. It would also be permitted to serve alcohol 15 minutes later into the night, until 11pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends.

Live music would be played between midnight on weekends, according to the application.

It had originally applied to close at 1am on weekdays and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, but reduced the hours on the advice of the council.

Jane Keane, the Labour councillor for the St Alban’s ward, submitted a formal objection against the plans.

She said: “Extending the drinking hours, combined with live music enhancing the venue’s attraction to a different type of clientele will make it more unsafe for existing residents living above and immediately adjacent to the property and for staff.

She added that Romford, as a “thriving metropolitan centre,” attracts patrons from both London and Essex, but also “unwelcome visitors”.

She continued: “While this is great for the regional economy Romford’s evening economy already attracts, too many unwelcome visitors who come to Romford attracted by the market for drugs, and with the drugs and the alcohol comes a much higher level of crime and disorder than is experienced almost anywhere in London.”

The Labour councillor also expressed concern that the applicant, Mentor Saphia, had not submitted a supporting statement with the application.

Some 14 additional conditions have been attached to the application, which the venue would need to adhere to. They include keeping the doors closed at all times, the manager conducting “regular” external sound checks, and installing signage telling customers to be mindful of their surroundings.

No other parties objected to the scheme, including the Metropolitan Police.

Royal Lounge used to be called Jumeirah Palm Lounge, before rebranding last February.

The application will go before the council’s licensing committee on Friday (21st March).