BK90 restaurant in Rainham loses licence application bid

BK90 restaurant in Elmer Gardens, Rainham opened on March 18 and applied for a premises licence ten days later.

A meeting of Havering's licencing sub-committee was held on May 17 to make a decision on owner Alaba Ibikunie Ologun's application.

It heard that Mr Ologun and his wife invested their savings to start the eatery offering authentic African food after they believed there was a lack of similar places in the neighbourhood.

The restaurant has however been the subject of resident complaints of anti-social behaviour, noise, parking and other problems.

Dozens of written objections were considered by the committee, with representations also heard from South Hornchurch ward councillors Natasha Summers and Graham Williamson.

One resident told the meeting that the restaurant "remained open beyond its opening hours at night and caused disturbance".

Another said that granting the premises a licence would amplify their problems.

The meeting also heard Mr Ologun accuse Cllr Williamson of “inciting” violence against him.

He said Cllr Williamson had wrongly described his restaurant as a community centre on a Facebook post, advising residents to object and suggesting the grounds they should use.

He claimed to have a screenshot of Cllr Williamson telling residents the most effective objection would be to make allegations of anti-social behaviour and to “hide” and take photographic evidence.

Read More: Rainham restaurateur accuses councillors over racist abuse

The meeting heard that after Cllrs Williamson and Summers distributed a leaflet to neighbours, warning that it was their "last chance" to object, Mr Ologun said he received numerous racist comments and messages.

He said he had received a death threat and his wife and children have gone into "hiding".

Mr Ologun told the meeting he filed a complaint with Havering Council about Cllr Williamson. 

Cllrs Williamson and Summers denied the allegations, with the latter telling the meeting “no way is this a race issue”.

BK90 restaurant opened in place of a newsagent and a cafe in Elmer Gardens, Rainham (Image: Google Street)

Cllr Williamson told the Recorder that there was “no justification” for Mr Ologun blaming his councillors and residents who have expressed “legitimate planning/licencing concerns”.

He added that no resident or ward councillors has ever mentioned the race of the applicant, which he said was “irrelevant”.

Various grounds were cited by the committee for its decision to turn down Mr Ologun’s application and these have been published on the council's website.

The committee said that Mr Ologun did not have enough experience to operate the licenced place in a way that will address the issues raised.

Members noted that Mr Ologun was unaware that he needed to obtain a premises licence and only sent in a request after he was informed by council officers.

The committee claimed that, at the time of the hearing, Mr Ologun said that a chef working there held a personal licence with experience of managing a restaurant.

Members were unable to verify this, it said.

The committee was not confident that, if a licence was granted, Mr Ologun had anyone with the necessary skills and ability to manage the premises in a way that complied with licencing rules.

The committee accepted that there were problems with noise and disturbance associated with the premises and expressed concern that these issues could potentially worsen if the restaurant also served alcohol.

It added that no staff members at the restaurant were yet trained on the sale of alcohol.

Members also questioned if Mr Ologun had an effective dispersal policy in place to make sure customers did not linger around after coming out of the premises.

In regard to Mr Ologun’s claims of racism, the committee said that it was not able to make a finding that any discrimination had taken place as members had not received documentary evidence before the meeting.

The Recorder has contacted the restaurant for comment.