Police have issued a stark warning that a North London restaurant with a documented history of drug-related incidents and anti-social behaviour could revert to its former problematic state if key licensing conditions are removed.
Licence conditions under review
O'Bombeiro, a Portuguese restaurant on Park Parade in Harlesden, is seeking to have a specific condition lifted from its premises licence. This condition, imposed following a review in 2023, prohibits any "attractions" in the venue's back room, mandating the removal of a pool table and fruit machine and allowing only furniture for seated dining.
The restaurant's owner, Francisco Nunes, argues that while O'Bombeiro has been blamed for past issues, the trouble originated from the street. He now wishes to make greater use of the back room space.
Police and council objections
The Metropolitan Police are strongly opposing the application. In a formal document, PC Brendon McInnes stated that the conditions were a direct response to drug activity at the venue in 2023 and 2024. He noted a significant improvement since their imposition, with no reported incidents of drugs or anti-social behaviour.
PC McInnes warned that lifting the restriction would risk transforming the venue back into a pub or nightclub environment, potentially inviting a return of the previous criminal and disruptive activities.
The Licensing Authority for Brent Council has also filed an objection. It claims the applicant has provided "no substantive evidence" to show the original problems have been resolved. The authority stated it is not satisfied that granting the variation would uphold the licensing objectives, particularly the prevention of public nuisance and crime and disorder.
A troubled history
The venue's past is marked by serious concerns. In April 2023, the Metropolitan Police successfully obtained a closure order from Brent Magistrates' Court, forcing O'Bombeiro to shut temporarily. This followed the execution of a search warrant prompted by numerous complaints about drugs being stored, consumed, and dealt on the premises.
Police intelligence documents from that time suggested the restaurant owner was "aware and possibly involved" in drug dealing from the property. Despite this, the venue was allowed to keep its licence after the 2023 review, but with the stringent new conditions now under debate.
Brent Council’s licensing sub-committee is scheduled to review the application and make a final decision at a meeting next week.
