The owner of a new Highbury restaurant has been accused of “contempt for residents” over an ongoing feud about an alcohol licence.
Tetto’s Italian Kitchen, formerly the White Horse pub, was refused a permanent alcohol and late-night music licence in August, after 28 local representatives complained that the restaurant would “have a huge negative impact on our lives”.
The licensing committee cited the restaurant owner’s failure to get planning permission for a newly-built outdoor conservatory as a reason for rejecting the application.
Three weeks ago they granted the restaurant a temporary alcohol licence, that would be revoked after a year if they failed to obtain permission for the conservatory.
But Salman Kurt, the restaurant’s owner, lost his appeal this week for permission.
The Planning Inspector described the new outside conservatory as “cumbersome and ill-considered”, and said the renovated restaurant would “likely give rise to unacceptable noise disturbance to nearby residents”.
Local councillor Sue Lukes, who campaigned against the alcohol licence, said: “This is the sort of development no-one wants on their doorstep. We know anti-social behaviour when we see it and we don’t want it here.”
“I don’t think the reason they rejected this application is true,” Kurt told Islington Now. “We’ve got a soundproof system. It’s nonsense.”
“I’m going to play music until half past three in the morning if they make me remove [the conservatory],” Kurt said. “This is mean, but I can use this place, I can have a DJ, and live music, whatever I want – I can use my old licence. We’re going to teach them.”
