The Metropolitan Police is attempting to block the opening of a new sports bar in North London, alleging the man behind the application has suspicious connections to the previous owners of the venue, who were allegedly involved in serious criminal activity.
Police Objection to Riley Sports Bar Licence
Riley Sports Limited has applied to Harrow Council for a new premises licence for the Riley Sports Bar on Northolt Road in South Harrow. The application, submitted by company director Riley Gerard Boyd, seeks permission to sell alcohol and provide entertainment from midday until midnight, seven days a week.
However, the Met Police have formally objected, calling on the council to reject the bid. In documents submitted to the licensing authority, PC Siddhartha Bhandari stated that police "strongly believe" Mr Boyd is "deeply connected" to the previous management of the site, which traded as the Harrow Sports Bar.
Allegations of Criminal Links and Misleading Information
The police allege the previous operators were "heavily associated with various crimes", including drug dealing, handling stolen goods, assaults, and unlicensed trading. They fear granting a new licence to Mr Boyd would "bring back all the issues" previously linked to the venue.
Officers claim evidence shows Mr Boyd, who is 20 years old, is "being used" by the former management to regain a licence. They point to a meeting on 13 November 2025, where Mr Boyd allegedly admitted to police and council officials that his name and alcohol licence training certificate had been used by the previous owners to "mislead" authorities on multiple occasions.
The police further allege that Mr Boyd subsequently provided incorrect information, stating he had no connection to the old management, while they claim to have evidence of him "desperately trying to revive the old licence".
Questions Over Experience and Council Concerns
The objection also raises doubts about Mr Boyd's capability to run the business, citing his lack of prior experience and a business plan that allegedly lacks proper health and safety checks and clear operational dates.
Harrow Council's own licensing team has also raised concerns. They noted a Companies House search shows Mr Boyd is the sole director of both Riley Sports Limited and Harrow Sports Bar Lounge Limited, a company incorporated in December 2024 shortly after the previous business was dissolved.
Licensing Team Leader Jhini Mukherjee stated that at the November meeting, Mr Boyd confirmed knowing a previous owner, describing them as "a friend of his mother". Mukherjee added: "These circumstances raise reasonable doubt about whether the applicant is fully independent of the previous licence holders."
The application from Riley Sports Limited promises a "zero tolerance" policy on illegal drugs, stating any found would be secured and reported to police.
The final decision rests with Harrow Council's Licensing Panel, which is scheduled to review the application at a meeting on 15 January 2026.
