Key Points
- Licensing Request: Meshi Café, located on London Road in Romford, has submitted a new premises licence application to Havering Council.
- Proposed Hours: The application seeks permission to supply and sell alcohol for consumption every day of the week, from 10:00 am until 11:00 pm.
- Applicant Details: The formal request has been made by applicant Armisa Hasi on behalf of the establishment.
- Repeat Submission: This latest licensing attempt follows a previous application for the exact same licensing terms submitted in November 2024.
- Public Consultation: Details of the proposal are currently hosted on Havering Council’s public licensing register, opening a window for local residents and stakeholders to submit representations or objections.
Romford (East London Times) October 22, 2026 – An established dining spot situated along one of Romford’s major thoroughfares has formally requested permission from municipal regulators to introduce daily alcohol sales. An application submitted to Havering Council reveals that Meshi Café, located on London Road, is seeking a comprehensive premises licence to sell alcoholic beverages to patrons from morning until late evening, seven days a week. The filing, put forward by applicant Armisa Hasi, requests authorisation to retail alcohol between 10:00 am and 11:00 pm daily. If approved by the local authority’s licensing committee, the measure would significantly alter the operational scope of the café, expanding its daily food menu into a fully licenced food and drink offering throughout the week.
- Key Points
- What Are the Specific Terms of the Licencing Request Submitted to Havering Council?
- Why Has Meshi Café Reapplied Following Its Previous November 2024 Licensing Filing?
- Background of the Licensing Application at Meshi Café
- Prediction: How This Development Could Affect Local Residents and Nearby Businesses
What Are the Specific Terms of the Licencing Request Submitted to Havering Council?
The core proposal laid out in the official filing centres on obtaining full authorisation for the retail sale of alcohol on the premises across all seven days of the week. Under the proposed schedule, alcohol service would commence at 10:00 am each morning and conclude at 11:00 pm each night.
According to official entries published on Havering Council’s licensing register, the application by Armisa Hasi encompasses the entirety of the establishment’s primary business hours. The registration of this submission initiates a statutory public consultation period, during which members of the local community, neighbouring traders, and statutory bodies—including the police and environmental health officers—may review the plans and register formal support, comments, or objections regarding the prospective operational changes.
Why Has Meshi Café Reapplied Following Its Previous November 2024 Licensing Filing?
This current licensing effort marks a recurring bid by the venue’s management to secure operational alcohol rights. The business previously submitted an identical application for a premises licence in November 2024, seeking the same 10:00 am to 11:00 pm daily distribution allowance.
The re-submission highlights an ongoing strategic attempt by the establishment to adapt its business model along London Road, a major artery into Romford known for high volumes of traffic and mixed commercial-residential usage. Members of the public wishing to inspect the specifics of the application or lodge formal representations are being directed to Havering Council’s public licensing portal while the statutory feedback window remains open.
Background of the Licensing Application at Meshi Café
London Road serves as one of the primary commercial corridors within the London Borough of Havering, connecting Romford town centre to surrounding residential neighbourhoods and major transport routes. Premises operating along this stretch face a competitive commercial environment, balancing daytime high-street trade with evening hospitality demand.
Under the Licensing Act 2003, any venue wishing to sell alcohol must obtain a premises licence from the local licensing authority—in this case, Havering Council. Licensing authorities evaluate applications against four core statutory objectives:
- The prevention of crime and disorder
- Public safety
- The prevention of public nuisance
- The protection of children from harm
When an application is logged on the council’s public register, a statutory consultation period of 28 consecutive days is triggered. During this window, local residents, business owners, and responsible authorities (such as the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, and Havering Council’s Noise and Environmental Protection teams) can submit written representations. If relevant representations highlighting concerns regarding the four licensing objectives are received and cannot be mediated informally, the application is referred to Havering Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee for a formal public hearing and determination.
Prediction: How This Development Could Affect Local Residents and Nearby Businesses
If Havering Council grants the premises licence as requested, the decision is likely to impact several local stakeholder groups across the London Road area in distinct ways:
- Impact on Local Residents: Residents living in immediate proximity to London Road may experience a shift in the local evening environment. While an 11:00 pm closing time aligns with standard residential licensing thresholds across Havering, neighbours may closely monitor foot traffic, ambient noise levels, and late-night departures from the premises. The consultation period provides these residents with a direct mechanism to request specific licensing conditions—such as acoustic management or restricted outdoor seating hours—to safeguard local residential amenity.
- Impact on Nearby Hospitality and Commercial Competitors: For neighbouring restaurants, pubs, and cafes along London Road, an approved licence for Meshi Café increases local commercial competition during evening dining hours. Conversely, the introduction of another licenced dining venue could contribute to a more active evening economy along this stretch of London Road, potentially drawing higher overall footfall to the area after dark.
- Impact on the Applicant and Business Operations: Securing a seven-day alcohol licence would allow Meshi Café to diversify its revenue streams, capture evening dinner trade, and cater to private functions or group bookings that expect alcoholic beverages alongside meals. However, approval would also subject the management to strict legal compliance under Havering Council’s licensing enforcement framework, including mandatory staff training, strict age-verification protocols (such as Challenge 25), and potential conditions regarding CCTV and premises management.

