A Chinese entrepreneur, previously cautioned with illegally selling alcohol, has had a licence request denied for his new restaurant, which has been described as a ‘problem venue’.
Restaurant owner Wei Hai Xie’s application to serve alcohol at Chinese restaurant Old Friend on Caledonian Road until midnight at weekends was rejected by Islington Council on 20 October.
At the Licensing Sub-Committee Chair, Cllr Robert Khan expressed concerns that Xie would not be an adequate manager of a licensed restaurant.
He had previously been cautioned when alcohol was sold illegally at a supermarket he owned.
As well as applying to serve alcohol at his ground floor restaurant, Mr Xie had planned to renovate the basement to serve as a karaoke bar.
Local resident Avril Francis said: “I spent a lot of time working with the police and the council trying to deal with the last owners.
“The bus stop is 20 yards from the premises, there’s no soundproofing. Caledonian Road is a residential area!”
He added: “There’s work still being done [by Xie] at the premises at 9.30pm and 10pm. Building should stop at a reasonable time. It’s only a sign of what’s to follow.”
Initially Xie applied to keep his business open and serve alcohol until 4am, but this provoked outrage from residents. It also faced opposition from police and Islington Council’s Public Health Department.
Xie then scaled back his request and just asked to serve alcohol until 12am at weekends instead.
It is not yet known whether Xie still plans to open the new restaurant despite not having an alcohol licence.
Photo: Leon Brockard (flickr creative commons)
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