Newham Council Approves Plaistow’s Green Gate Kebabish 5am Licence 2026

Key Points

• A kebab restaurant named Green Gate Kebabish at 545 Barking Road in Plaistow, Newham, has been granted a late-night refreshment licence by Newham Council to sell food until 5am.
• The decision was made by a licensing sub-committee on February 10, 2026, with minutes published last week.
• Neighbours and a nearby business owner objected, citing concerns over groups of people gathering late at night, attracted by late-night dining and deliveries.
• Councillors found “no actual evidence” of noise, antisocial behaviour, crime, or disorder linked to the application.
• The shop’s owner proposed robust measures, including stopping indoor dining at 2am and ensuring prompt food delivery to riders with no engine idling, horns, or waiting outside.
• The manager’s responses were deemed “sufficient to allay any fears,” and the proposed conditions were “sufficiently robust.”
• No objections were raised by responsible authorities, such as police, environmental health, or council licensing officers.

Plaistow (East London Times) February 27, 2026 – Green Gate Kebabish at 545 Barking Road has secured permission from Newham Council to operate until 5am after a licensing sub-committee dismissed objections from neighbours and a local business owner over potential noise and antisocial behaviour. Councillors concluded there was “no actual evidence” that the late-night licence would cause disturbances, praising the owner’s plans as “sufficiently robust” to prevent issues. The decision, reached on February 10 and published in minutes last week, allows the Plaistow kebab shop to serve food through the early hours.

Why Did Councillors Approve the Late-Night Licence?

The licensing sub-committee’s approval hinged on a lack of concrete evidence against the application. As detailed in the official minutes from Newham Council’s licensing meeting on February 10, 2026, councillors noted that none of the “responsible authorities” – including the police, environmental health officers, and council licensing team – lodged any objections. This absence of opposition from key stakeholders carried significant weight in their deliberations.

Furthermore, the committee found no substantiation for fears of increased noise, crime, or disorder. The minutes explicitly state that “there was no evidence presented” linking the licence to such problems, allowing the application to proceed despite local concerns.

What Objections Were Raised by Locals?

Local residents and business owners voiced clear worries about late-night crowds. Minutes from the February 10 hearing record that two nearby residents and one business owner submitted objections to Newham Council, requesting the licence be denied for Green Gate Kebabish.

The business owner highlighted

“large amounts of people being attracted to the area in the late hours.”

One resident echoed this, stating she believed groups on the street were drawn by “late night dining and deliveries.” These testimonies painted a picture of existing late-night gatherings that objectors feared would worsen.

How Did the Kebab Shop Address These Concerns?

Green Gate Kebabish’s manager provided reassurances that swayed the councillors. According to the meeting minutes, the manager’s responses

“were sufficient to allay any fears,”

with proposed conditions described as “sufficiently robust.”

Specific measures included halting indoor dining at 2am to reduce on-site gatherings. For deliveries, food would be handed over “in a prompt manner” to riders, prohibiting engine idling, horns, or waiting outside the premises. These steps aimed to minimise street activity and noise after hours.

Councillors deemed these plans adequate to mitigate risks, stating they

“were sufficient to allay any fears”

while ensuring compliance with licensing goals.

When and How Was the Decision Made?

The licensing sub-committee convened on February 10, 2026, to review the application for Green Gate Kebabish. Following discussion of objections, evidence, and mitigation proposals, they voted to grant the late-night refreshment licence permitting sales until 5am.

The formal decision appeared in minutes released last week, making it public record. This timeline aligns with standard Newham Council procedures for licensing appeals, ensuring transparency for applicants and objectors alike.

Who Were the Key Players Involved?

The applicant was the owner of Green Gate Kebabish, represented by the shop’s manager during the hearing. Objectors comprised two anonymous nearby residents and one unnamed business owner, as per the minutes.

Newham Council’s licensing sub-committee members, though not individually named in the published minutes, acted as decision-makers. Responsible authorities – police, environmental health, and licensing officers – played a supportive role by not objecting.

What Conditions Attach to the Licence?

The approved licence incorporates the applicant’s suggested safeguards. Indoor dining ceases at 2am, curtailing prolonged customer presence inside.

Delivery protocols mandate swift handovers: riders receive food promptly without idling engines, sounding horns, or lingering outside. These terms form enforceable conditions, subject to council monitoring.

Councillors endorsed them as “sufficiently robust,” confident they would prevent the disturbances raised in objections.

Will This Increase Noise or Antisocial Behaviour?

Councillors explicitly rejected this risk, citing “no actual evidence” of such outcomes. The minutes emphasise that neither objectors nor authorities provided proof tying late-night operations to noise or disorder.

The sub-committee relied on the manager’s mitigations and lack of prior incidents at the site. They determined the plans sufficiently addressed potential issues, prioritising evidence over speculation.

How Does This Fit Newham’s Licensing Approach?

Newham Council balances business growth with community welfare through rigorous licensing. This case exemplifies their evidence-based process: approvals proceed absent objections from authorities and verifiable harm.

Similar decisions in Plaistow and broader Newham underscore a pattern where robust applicant proposals overcome resident concerns. The council’s minutes serve as a public audit trail, fostering accountability.

What Happens If Problems Arise Post-Approval?

Licensing conditions enable swift enforcement. Breaches – such as indoor dining past 2am or delivery riders idling – could prompt reviews, fines, or revocation.

Residents retain rights to report issues via Newham Council’s portal. Persistent problems might trigger a full licence reassessment, as per statutory guidelines.

The sub-committee’s faith in monitoring underscores their conditional approval.

Why Is Plaistow Seeing More Late-Night Applications?

Plaistow’s Barking Road, a bustling commercial strip, attracts food ventures amid East London’s night-time economy growth. Green Gate Kebabish joins kebab shops serving post-pub crowds, reflecting demand.

Newham’s diverse population and transport links, including nearby stations, fuel such bids. Councils nationwide grapple with similar tensions between economic vitality and residential peace.

Broader Implications for Newham Businesses?

This ruling signals openness to late licences with strong safeguards. Owners proposing clear anti-disturbance measures may find favour, especially sans authority objections.

Yet it cautions against unsubstantiated fears: objectors need evidence. For Plaistow traders, it highlights proactive management as key to expansion.

Resident Reactions and Next Steps?

Objectors expressed dismay, per minutes, but the decision stands unless appealed. Newham Council allows review requests within set timelines.

Community forums may see debate, with some hailing jobs and choice, others decrying noise risks. Monitoring begins immediately under licence terms.

Council’s Stance on Night-Time Economy?

Newham promotes controlled growth, per planning documents. Late-night food outlets contribute taxes and employment while conditions protect amenity.

This approval aligns with policies favouring evidenced decisions over blanket bans, fostering Plaistow’s vibrancy.