London restaurants “given a ‘final chance'”
Two neighboring restaurants in Soho, London, narrowly avoided being shut down after repeatedly violating their alcohol licensing conditions. The Mediterranean Café and Violet’s, both owned by Ali Aksu, were found selling alcohol without food and after hours. Westminster City Council has given them a final chance to stay open after a three-month suspension, but Mr. Aksu and his brother are barred from working there. The council has also imposed strict conditions, including staff training and ID checks.
The council’s Licensing Committee found that the restaurants had been selling alcohol after hours and allowing customers to drink without food, in breach of their licenses. The committee also required Mr. Aksu to erect a sign outside his restaurants warning customers that alcohol could only be sold with a meal.
The council ordered a review after officers found customers drinking without food during an inspection on New Year’s Eve. A probe by licensing officers found that the premises failed to carry out ID checks and used unauthorized chairs and tables on the footpath outside the restaurant and café.
The operator has been fined £14,000 in the past for licensing breaches, which it pleaded guilty to. The venues also faced a license review in 2021 over similar alleged breaches and had their premises shut down by police in June 2024 after staff were allegedly caught serving alcohol to customers without food during Pride celebrations.
PC Steve Muldoon from the Met Police told councillors that an ‘immense’ amount of effort had gone into helping Mr. Aksu run his restaurants in line with their licensing conditions. He said that this was the second review in four years and that all the prosecutions since had made no difference.
Gary Grant, representing Mr. Aksu, said his client was sorry for the repeated breaches, which he put down to Mr. Aksu’s friendly nature and desire to accommodate customers. He said the restaurants were ‘beloved’ by customers and a hub for the community.
Andrew Malone, a supporter, told the committee that the restaurants were unique and vibrant places that went beyond just serving food. He said that they were exceptional and made him feel safe.
The council has imposed strict conditions on the restaurants, including staff training and ID checks, to ensure that they comply with their licensing conditions in the future.
- Categories: Alcohol/Ent/LNR, London, Trade/industry
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