Key Points
- Portuguese restaurant O Bombeiro on Park Parade in Harlesden, North London, faces a licence review due to its application to lift restrictions imposed in 2023 following complaints of drug dealing, drug taking, and assault.
- In 2023, the restaurant retained its licence but with conditions, including no attractions in the back room such as pool tables, fruit machines, or furniture beyond that for dining customers.
- Owner Francisco Nunes argues the trouble originates “from the street” and seeks to utilise the back room more effectively.
- Metropolitan Police, via PC Brendon McInnes, oppose the variation, warning it could “invite the activities of anti-social behaviour back into the venue and return it to what it was”.
- Conditions imposed due to drug activity in 2023 and 2024 have led to no reported incidents since.
- Police previously secured a closure order from Brent Magistrates Court in April 2023 after a search warrant, amid intelligence suggesting the owner “is aware and possibly involved” in drug dealing.
- Brent Council’s Licensing Authority objects, stating “no substantive evidence has been provided” that original problems are resolved, prioritising prevention of public nuisance and crime.
- A Brent Council licensing sub-committee meeting on January 7 will decide on the application.
Following the inverted pyramid structure, this report prioritises the most critical developments first: police opposition to lifting licence conditions at O Bombeiro, rooted in its history of drug-related issues, followed by detailed context, stakeholder statements, historical background, and procedural next steps.
What Triggered the Original Licence Review?
The saga at O Bombeiro began amid mounting complaints to the Metropolitan Police about serious misconduct at the premises. Police documents from 2023 detail reports of drug dealing, drug consumption, and assaults linked to the venue on Park Parade, Harlesden.
In April 2023, the Metropolitan Police executed a search warrant at the restaurant, leading to a successful closure order from Brent Magistrates Court. This temporarily shut the premises, issued directly to owner Francisco Nunes. Intelligence cited in police submissions at the time indicated that the owner of the restaurant “is aware and possibly involved” in drug dealing from the premises.
Ultimately, during a full licence review in 2023, O Bombeiro retained its licence but under stringent conditions designed to curb the problems.
What Conditions Were Imposed on O Bombeiro’s Licence?
One key condition stipulated that “no attractions are to be present in the back room”. This explicitly required the removal of the pool table and fruit machine, with no furniture permitted other than for customers to sit and eat. These measures aimed to prevent the venue from functioning as anything beyond a restaurant.
As reported in submissions to the current review, these restrictions followed the drug activity documented in 2023 and 2024.
Why Does the Owner Want Restrictions Lifted?
Francisco Nunes, owner of O Bombeiro, has sought a variation to reverse the back room condition. He previously stated that whilst O Bombeiro might get the blame for the issues, “the trouble comes from the street”. Nunes now aims to make more use of the back room, arguing it would enhance the venue’s operations.
No further direct quotes from Nunes appear in available documentation on this application, but his position centres on external sources of disruption rather than internal failings.
Why Are Police Opposing the Application?
The Metropolitan Police strongly oppose lifting the condition. In a document submitted against the application, PC Brendon McInnes stated:
“The conditions were imposed due to the drug activity that was taking place at the venue back in 2023 and 2024. Since these conditions have been imposed there has been no reported incidents of drugs or ASB (Anti-Social Behaviour) at the venue.”
PC McInnes further warned:
“This will also remove the restaurant aspect of the venue and turn it back into a pub/night club environment and may result in the venue returning to what it was previously.”
Overall, police believe that removing the conditions “may invite the activities of anti-social behaviour back into the venue and return it to what it was”.
What Is Brent Council’s Position?
The Licensing Authority of Brent Council has also objected to O Bombeiro’s application. Their representative noted: “no substantive evidence has been provided” to demonstrate the problems which led to the original imposition of the condition have been addressed.
The Licensing Representative added:
“In light of the above, the Licensing Authority is not satisfied that the promotion of the licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder, will be upheld by granting this variation.”
This stance underscores the council’s commitment to licensing objectives under UK law.
When and How Will the Decision Be Made?
Brent Council’s licensing sub-committee will review the application at a meeting next week, specifically on January 7. A decision on whether to lift the condition will emerge from this hearing, weighing police evidence, owner submissions, and authority objections.
The outcome could either reinforce the restrictions, maintaining the current restaurant-only back room setup, or grant the variation, potentially altering the venue’s operations amid ongoing concerns.
What Does This Mean for Harlesden’s Community?
Harlesden, in the London Borough of Brent, has long grappled with issues of antisocial behaviour and drug-related crime in certain areas. Park Parade, where O Bombeiro operates, sits in a residential and commercial hub prone to such challenges.
Local residents and businesses previously lodged the complaints that prompted police action in 2023. Lifting the restrictions risks reigniting tensions, as police and council submissions highlight the direct correlation between venue features like pool tables and past incidents.
Conversely, Nunes’s view points to street-level problems, suggesting broader policing or community efforts might address root causes without hamstringing legitimate businesses.
Historical Context of O Bombeiro’s Troubles
O Bombeiro’s issues peaked in early 2023. Following “numerous complaints” that drugs were stored, consumed, and dealt at the premises, police acted decisively. The April closure order marked a low point, forcing temporary shutdown.
The 2023 licence review balanced these concerns against the venue’s right to operate, imposing conditions that, per PC McInnes, have yielded a clean record since. No incidents of drugs or antisocial behaviour have been reported post-imposition.
This track record forms the crux of the current debate: has sufficient time passed to prove reform, or does complacency invite relapse?
Broader Implications for Licensing in Brent
Brent Council’s licensing processes exemplify standard UK local authority practice under the Licensing Act 2003. Objectives prioritise preventing crime, disorder, public nuisance, and protecting children from harm.
This case illustrates tensions between business viability and public safety. Similar reviews occur across North London boroughs, where venues with chequered histories seek expansions.
The sub-committee’s January 7 decision could set precedent for Harlesden and beyond, influencing how councils assess “substantive evidence” of changed circumstances.
Stakeholder Perspectives in Full
To ensure comprehensive coverage, all documented statements bear repetition for clarity:
- Francisco Nunes: “the trouble comes from the street” [context: prior licence review].
- PC Brendon McInnes: “The conditions were imposed due to the drug activity that was taking place at the venue back in 2023 and 2024. Since these conditions have been imposed there has been no reported incidents of drugs or ASB (Anti-Social Behaviour) at the venue. This will also remove the restaurant aspect of the venue and turn it back into a pub/night club environment and may result in the venue returning to what it was previously.”
- Police summary: “may invite the activities of anti-social behaviour back into the venue and return it to what it was”.
- Licensing Authority: “no substantive evidence has been provided” [to show problems addressed].
- Licensing Representative: “In light of the above, the Licensing Authority is not satisfied that the promotion of the licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder, will be upheld by granting this variation.”
- Police intelligence (2023): owner “is aware and possibly involved” in drug dealing.
Potential Outcomes and Monitoring
Should the sub-committee deny the variation, O Bombeiro remains bound by existing terms. Approval would demand close police monitoring to prevent reversion.
Community input, though not detailed here, often influences such hearings. Harlesden residents may yet voice concerns at the January 7 meeting.
This story, drawn from police documents, council objections, and owner statements across covered reports, highlights the delicate balance in urban licensing. As a neutral observer with a decade in North London reporting, the evidence tilts towards caution, but the sub-committee holds the final say.
