The proprietor of a Barking restaurant and shisha bar shut down for breaking Covid guidelines claims the council wrongly believed he was not allowed to open.
Barking and Dagenham Council enforcement officers visited Sweet London in Longbridge Road for “a routine inspection” final month and located about 25 to 30 clients gathered in “a wood construction” sharing shisha and meals.
A rear extension to the restaurant was not too long ago constructed for use as a shisha bar and smoking space after planning permission was granted final yr.
The city corridor says social distancing was not being enforced and venues are banned from offering smoking tools, similar to shisha pipes, for use on the premises below present Covid guidelines.
On April 27, 4 days after the go to, the council issued a path order to shut the enterprise for two weeks from that date.
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But that is topic to continuous overview and the venue could also be allowed to open sooner if sure necessities are met.
When contacted by the Post, venue proprietor Rraman Gjana didn’t deny shisha was being smoked however insisted the venue was complying with social distancing guidelines.
However, he claimed the explanation he was ordered to shut was as a result of the area was wrongly deemed to not meet a air flow requirement to be thought of an outside space.
“They’ve picked on us saying that it’s not 50pc open and we shouldn’t have been open, when the reality is on (the planning permission),” Mr Gjana stated.
A council spokesperson instructed the Post the discover was issued for “serving meals in a considerably enclosed space” in addition to the service of shisha and of communal meals, slightly than at particular person tables with not more than six folks.
Met Police officers additionally attended through the council officers’ go to on April 23.
The council says it was suggested by police {that a} £10,000 fastened penalty discover was served on that date, however Mr Gjana strongly denied this.
Met Police has not responded to requests to make clear.
The council’s operational director for enforcement and neighborhood security Andy Opie stated: “It’s a disgrace that this enterprise has determined to go in opposition to the foundations, particularly as they will now function with a bit extra leniency.
“As restrictions ease, we are going to proceed to work with carefully with native companies to ensure they’re following the foundations and working safely by offering recommendation and steering.
“But in the event that they don’t work with us, we are going to take the required enforcement motion.”
