Key Points
- Licensing Proposal: The Rajdhani Express, a vegetarian Indian eatery located at Kingsbury Road in Brent, has formally submitted an application for a premises license with the Brent Council.
- Proposed Hours of Operation: The business has asked for permission to operate until 2:00 am Monday to Sunday and sell alcohol between 11:00 am and midnight throughout the week.
- Product Offerings: The business is seeking permission to offer various alcoholic drinks including draft beers, bottled beer, liquor, and spirits.
- Local Concerns: Locals have expressed deep concerns about antisocial behavior, street drinking, noise, littering, and the crowded outdoor street food stall.
- Safety Issues: There is a formal public objection where concerns were raised about the intimidating and threatening behavior of a group of men who stand outside and make sexual remarks to women walking past the place.
- Defence by Management: It is stated that no safety concerns have happened at all and the management will ensure the implementation of strict control measures.
Kingsbury (North London News) September 2, 2026 – As reported by Grant Williams of MyLondon, residents in Kingsbury, North London, have voiced deep anxieties over a late-night licencing application submitted by Rajdhani Express, a local vegetarian Indian eatery situated on Kingsbury Road in the London Borough of Brent. The restaurant has submitted a formal application to Brent Council requesting permission to extend its operational hours until 2:00 am every day of the week, alongside a request to sell alcohol on the premises between 11:00 am and midnight daily.
Local householders argue that granting these extended hours and an alcohol licence will exacerbate existing public order problems along the high street. Specific concerns raised by members of the community point toward an expected rise in street drinking, public loitering, late-night noise, and general anti-social behaviour in an area that residents say is already struggling with street-level congestion.
What specific concerns have residents raised regarding safety and high street clutter?
As reported by Grant Williams of MyLondon, opposition to the application includes detailed formal objections submitted by Kingsbury residents directly to Brent Council’s licencing committee. One objector highlighted that the venue already operates a “highly cluttered, sprawling outdoor stall layout” at its frontage, which they argue contributes negatively to the local streetscape and impedes foot traffic.
Furthermore, the resident expressed acute personal safety fears regarding the gathering of individuals outside the premises. According to statements detailed in the local report, groups of men frequently loiter in the vicinity of the shopfront, with claims that passing women have been subjected to “intimidating sexual comments”. Opponents contend that introducing alcohol sales until midnight and keeping the venue open until 2:00 am will inevitably draw larger, unruly crowds later into the night, intensifying the threat of street harassment and littering.
How has the restaurant management responded to the public backlash?
As reported by Grant Williams of MyLondon, the management of Rajdhani Express has vigorously defended its application and rejected claims that the establishment poses a threat to public safety. The business owner asserted that there have been no major incidents at the premises in which customers or passers-by have been made to feel unsafe.
In response to the community’s worries, the restaurant owners stated that additional operational measures will be put into place to ensure the premises are managed in a safe, orderly, and responsible manner. The establishment, which is known for its vegetarian street food and dine-in options, maintains that the inclusion of draft beers, bottled beers, spirits, and liquors is designed to complement its dining menu for patrons consuming food on-site, rather than to establish an unruly drinking den.
What is the background of this particular development?
The tension surrounding the Rajdhani Express licencing bid reflects broader, ongoing debates across the London Borough of Brent regarding high street regeneration, night-time economy expansion, and public safety. Kingsbury Road serves as a busy commercial artery in North London, dense with residential flats situated directly above or adjacent to retail and dining spaces.
Over recent years, Brent Council’s Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee has faced increasing scrutiny over late-night premises licences. Local residents across various town centres in the borough have frequently organized to challenge applications for late-night food and drink operations, citing issues such as late-night footfall, illegal parking, public urination, littering, and noise disturbance during hours when residential noise limits are expected. Under the Licensing Act 2003, local authorities are required to balance the promotion of four core licencing objectives—the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm—against the commercial growth of local businesses. The formal objections submitted against Rajdhani Express mean the final decision rests with Brent Council’s sub-committee following a public hearing where both residents and the applicant will present their evidence.
How will this development affect local residents and business owners?
The outcome of Brent Council’s upcoming decision on the Rajdhani Express application holds significant implications for two primary audiences: local residents residing along Kingsbury Road and the local commercial business community.
If Brent Council approves the licence as requested, local residents—particularly women and families living in the immediate vicinity—may experience increased late-night footfall, potential escalations in noise disturbance up until 2:00 am, and heighten concerns regarding anti-social behaviour along the pavement. The approval could set a precedent for other food outlets on Kingsbury Road seeking late-night alcohol extensions, altering the residential atmosphere of the neighbourhood late at night. Conversely, if the licencing committee imposes strict conditions—such as requiring security personnel, mandatory CCTV surveillance, early closure of outdoor street stalls, or refusing the late-night alcohol allowance—it may provide reassurance to residents that public safety and street order are being actively safeguarded.
For the business owners of Rajdhani Express and neighbouring traders, the ruling will signal how receptive the borough remains to expanding the night-time economy. A refusal or heavy restriction could limit the restaurant’s planned revenue stream from beverage sales and late-night trade. However, a requirement to modify their outdoor layout and introduce tighter security measures could foster a safer, more structured environment that helps bridge the divide between local business growth and community peace.
