St Albans restaurant drops licence appeal

ST ALBANS: A restaurant and bar has withdrawn its appeal against the council’s decision to suspend its premises licence for 14 days.

Buon Amici, the Italian restaurant in Heritage Close, St Albans, was the subject of a licensing hearing earlier this year after complaints about loud parties and trading into the early hours of the morning.

The licensing panel ruled that the premises licence should be suspended for two weeks and proprietor Kamillo Bendahman removed as the designated premises supervisor until he had completed a National Certificate for Personal Licence Holders.

Mr Bendahman appealed against the decision but this week the council said the appeal had been withdrawn and the proprietor had worked closely with the authorities to implement the changes suggested by the panel to prevent public nuisance and ensure public safety.

They include conditions preventing drinking in the rear outside areas after 9pm, requiring Security Industry Authority (SIA) licensed door staff and for a personal licence holder to be on the premises from 8pm onwards on both Friday and Saturday evenings.

Buon Amici, which began a 14-day closure period on September 20, will no longer be able to provide live music because of the noise nuisance for neighbours.