Crowds outside the Lebanese Grill in Leather Lane

PEOPLE living next to a lively late-night takeaway say they continue to endure sleepless nights as they wait for the viral grill shop to be stripped of its licence.

Lebanese Grill in Leather Lane has made an impact on TikTok through videos amassing tens of thousands of views, but residents living next to the popular takeaway say it continues to cause issues of crowds of people causing noise and nuisance, air pollution and people leaving half eaten shawarmas on the side of the road, despite its late night licence having been revoked in November.

Melanie Tew, chair of the Bourne Estate Tenants and Residents Associa­tion, said: “The time and effort to make all those applications to get that licence revoked and to feel that nothing has changed, it feels like a waste of everybody’s time.

“Lebanese Grill is basically laughing at everyone who is affected because right now they are still making money and doing nothing about all the ongoing issues.”

Ms Tew said there was regular late night “screaming” from outside the grill.

She said: “Last week we had these vans turn up with the music blaring and it looked very clear they were giving out latex balloons with something inside them.”

Awale Olad, the Labour councillor who is stepping down and speaking as a local resident, said: “Ever since the licence was revoked the business has just ignored everyone and things have just got worse.

“The crime and antisocial behaviour has increased massively, there has been a lot more arrests connected to the premises, a lot more intimidating figures, marauding around the area and gangs of kids fighting in masks.

“But the council doesn’t have the power to go in here and say you can’t be here, only the police have the power to do that.”

In November the licensing panel made a unanimous decision to revoke the takeaways late night refreshment licence due to a history of non compliance over the past three years, a disdain for lack of community concerns, sustained public nuisance and that recent improvements from the business were deemed “too little, too late”.

Zak Khan, owner of Lebanese Grill, said: “We are doing our best, we have had a security guard on the door and it’s been better. A lot of residents have been happy, we’ve also been picking the litter up from the estate as well and we’ve been trying to reduce the noise level.”

Mr Khan, told the New Journal that the business has recently started closing at 11pm as a “gesture of goodwill” to the community and council even though they can continue to legally operate until 1am.

The takeaway appealed the loss of their licence meaning they are able to continue to trade their late night hours. The licence appeal is set to be held in August.

Mr Khan said: “We’ve lost a lot of business. Actually it’s a shame really, a lot of the locals do support the place and it’s the same when something successful is being complained about, and when it’s not successful they are also complaining there is nothing happening.

“The place, the staff, it’s a good business. We’ve had no crime on the premises – what happens on the street is not in our control. It’s like going to any other late-night takeaway and having people outside hanging about, but we have no control of that.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said they had increased patrols to address the anti-social behaviour and reassure the local community.

However since the decision of revoke the licence had been appealed, the business was still operating.

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “The venue can continue to trade until the appeal has been determined by the court.

“Our community safety team will continue to tackle anti-social behaviour and offer reassurance to residents, ahead of the appeal hearing which is scheduled for August.”