Benjamin Koomson wanted to serve food and alcohol as late as 1.30am at Makola Market in Oxlow Lane, saying he was “trying to bring the community together”.
But Barking and Dagenham Council licensing officers said he had already broken several licensing conditions repeatedly while offering “excuses after excuses after excuses”.
Mr Koomson already has permission to run Makola Market as an off licence until 11pm, and to sell small measures of alcohol to drink on the premises until 10pm.
He also has permission to sell food and drink on the pavement in front of the shop until 10pm each night.
Benjamin Koomson (left) and his representative Olugbemiga Olusola (right) at a licensing sub-committee hearing(Image: Barking and Dagenham Council)
Mr Koomson applied for permission to offer late night refreshment and alcohol until 12.30am Sunday to Thursday and until 1.30am on Friday and Saturday nights.
But council licensing officers, two councillors and a nearby resident all objected.
Licensing officers said they received noise complaints and photographs showing Makola Lounge operating beyond its permitted hours, and found “repeated breaches” of its licence.
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A ward councillor said extended hours would pose “disruption for residents” and a nearby resident claimed the store sometimes closes at 4am on weekends, and that noise stops “children and adults from sleeping”.
However, 21 people also signed a petition supporting Mr Koomson and the council received a letter in support from Sam Dear, who runs Robertsons Fishing Tackle opposite the shop.
The letter said: “Makola Market brings something to the parade that I and others feel is lacking in the borough… community.
“Just last week, I stopped and sat outside my shop as I sometimes do, watching the world go by and what was the best thing I saw? It was the guys playing pool outside with Ben.”
Councillors on a licensing sub-committee considered Mr Koomson’s application on October 2.
Mr Koomson told them he wanted to extend his licensing hours “for my customers”.
He said his shop had never had problems with the police, nor noise complaints from people living nearby.
Mr Koomson said: “I’m just trying to bring my community together.
“The residents want me to do it – that’s why I applied.”
But council licensing officers said they have had to visit Makola Market seven times.
They said that of the 36 conditions on the current premises licence, 25 of them had been breached.
These included operating later than permitted, failures to operate, access and store CCTV recordings, and selling alcohol stronger than 6 per cent ABV.
Licensing officer Samena Baloch said officers had made sure Mr Koomson knew the licensing conditions but that he “repeatedly failed to comply”.
Ms Baloch said: “We have visited your premises I believe the most.
“Every time there have been excuses after excuses after excuses.”
Ms Baloch said licensing officers had “no trust or confidence in the licence holder’s ability to manage the premises responsibly or in accordance with the licensing objectives”.
Councillors on the sub-committee voted to refuse Mr Koomson’s application.
