Black Loom Café Seeks Midnight Alcohol Licence in Hornchurch 2026

Key Points

• Black Loom café in Hornchurch has submitted an application to Havering Council to sell alcohol until 11pm from Sunday to Thursday, and until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.
• The venue proposes operating seven days a week, opening every morning from 8am as a lounge-style bistro.
• Under the proposal, vertical drinking is explicitly prohibited, meaning alcohol will only be served to seated customers alongside a meal.
• Three local residents have lodged formal objections with the council, citing concerns over late-night noise pollution, disruption, and an overconcentration of licensed premises.
• The applicant has agreed to a series of licensing conditions, including a comprehensive 31-day CCTV system, incident reporting logs, and noise-sensitive signage.
• Neither Havering Council’s licensing team nor the Metropolitan Police licensing officers have raised formal objections to the application.
• A final decision will be made by Havering Council’s licensing committee, composed of elected Reform councillors.

Hornchurch (East London Times) October 9, 2026 – A newly established establishment in Hornchurch, named Black Loom, has submitted a formal application to Havering Council requesting authorization to supply alcohol until midnight on weekends, prompting written objections from nearby residents concerned about late-night disruption. As reported by Sebastian Mann, the operators are seeking permission to serve alcohol from 8am to 11pm between Sunday and Thursday, with opening hours extended until midnight on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Why Is Black Loom Requesting Late-Night Hours and How Will the Venue Operate?

According to the licensing application submitted to Havering Council’s licensing department, the venue intends to function primarily as a lounge-style bistro featuring a fully seated café layout. To address potential concerns regarding excessive drinking, the venue operator has explicitly committed to preventing vertical drinking on the premises, ensuring that all customers are seated and that alcoholic beverages are served strictly as an accompaniment to meals.

What Concerns Have Been Raised by Hornchurch Residents?

Following the public notification of the licensing request, three local residents submitted formal letters of objection to Havering Council, expressing apprehension regarding potential noise and public disorder. As reported by Sebastian Mann, one objecting resident detailed her concerns regarding the density of venues in the immediate vicinity, writing that late opening hours could attract larger crowds and, in turn, “increase noise pollution and public disorder.”

The resident further highlighted existing commercial activity in the neighbourhood, noting:

“There are already four licensed premises within a few hundred yards of [Black Loom and] further licensed premises will attract more late-night revellers.”

What Measures Has the Applicant Agreed to Implement to Prevent Disruption?

In response to potential public nuisance concerns and following consultations with relevant authorities, Black Loom has agreed to adopt several venue management conditions. As detailed in the application documents, the operator will install a comprehensive digital colour CCTV system designed to cover all public entrances and exits, with all recorded footage retained for a minimum of 31 days.

Furthermore, the venue management has undertaken to maintain a detailed incident log on the premises. This log will systematically record any instances of customer ejectment, public disorder, drug seizures, or refusals of service. The applicant has also committed to displaying prominent signage at all exit doors, reminding departing patrons to leave quietly and respect the surrounding residential neighbourhood.

How Have Local Licensing Authorities and the Police Responded?

Despite the formal opposition submitted by local residents, neither the Metropolitan Police licensing team nor Havering Council’s own licensing officers have filed formal objections against the application. As reported by Sebastian Mann, an official council report notes that the operators of Black Loom “willingly engaged” with both police and council licensing teams during the pre-application phase, agreeing to a thorough set of enforceable operating conditions.

The final decision regarding whether to grant the premises licence will rest with Havering Council’s licensing sub-committee, composed of elected Reform UK councillors, following a scheduled hearing.

What Is the Background of Licensing Developments in Havering?

The London Borough of Havering, which encompasses Hornchurch, operates under strict statutory licensing objectives governed by the Licensing Act 2003. These objectives focus on the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. In commercial town centres such as Hornchurch, balancing the growth of the night-time economy with the amenity rights of residential neighbours frequently forms a central element of licensing deliberations.

Sub-committees are required to assess whether proposed operating conditions—such as seated-only dining and mandatory CCTV—are sufficient to mitigate potential friction between commercial venues and nearby residents.

What Is the Prediction for How This Decision Will Affect Local Stakeholders?

If the licensing sub-committee approves the application under the agreed conditions, the decision is likely to impact both the local business ecosystem and surrounding residents in specific ways:

• For Nearby Residents: The approval would introduce an additional operational late-night premises within a short distance of existing residential housing. Whilst venue conditions enforce seated meal services and noise-mitigation signage, residents may experience incremental increases in foot traffic and ambient sound during closing times, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights.
• For the Applicant and Local Economy: Securing the licence would allow Black Loom to maximize revenue through late-night bistro dining, contributing to Hornchurch’s evening economy. It would also establish a precedent for lounge-style dining models operating alongside traditional pub establishments in the borough.
• For Future Licensing Applicants: A positive outcome achieved through pre-application engagement and strict self-imposed conditions (such as banning vertical drinking) may serve as a blueprint for future hospitality applicants seeking extended hours in sensitive residential zones across Havering.