Love Island star Kem Cetinay's Array venue hit by noise complaints

Array Essex, faces a premises licence review called by Harold Wood ward councillors Brian Eagling, Darren Wise and Martin Goode.

More than 40 people living nearby have submitted representations supporting the application, while police and council officers are also backing it.

The news comes days after a 33-year-old man was taken to hospital after being found with stab wounds outside the Shepherds Hill venue.

READ MORE: Man stabbed on Harold Wood's Shepherds Hill

A report on Havering Council's website says the councillors claim that "for a protracted period of time – over 18 months – the residents in a half mile radius of the Shepherds Hill premises have been continually affected by the premises’ alleged failure to promote the licensing objectives".

But a statement from Array said it tries "to be a good neighbour".

They added: "Our premises is principally food-led. We believe we promote the licensing objectives and provide a safe environment for people to come and have dinner at our premises."

The venue claimed there is "little or no disorder" and said it has been growing and providing "a good quality service" to customers during the last 12 months.

READ MORE: Kem Cetinay: Love Island star offers ‘deepest condolences’ after fatal motorcycle collision

Formerly the Shepherd and Dog pub, Array was launched by Mr Cetinay and business partner Nadir Gul in 2021.

The venue is open until 12.30am on Sundays to Wednesdays and until 1.30am from Thursdays to Saturdays.

But the councillors want closing time to be pulled back to 11pm.

Cllr Wise told the Recorder: "When they opened, it was supposed to be a family-friendly restaurant but it has basically turned into a nightclub.

"It is not the right place for a nightclub."

Kem Cetinay and Nadir Gul co-founded Array (Image: Sally Patterson)

Neighbours' concerns

A number of Shepherds Hill and Phillida Road residents have written representations to the review.

Issues mentioned include concerns with loud music, street parking, revving engines and fighting.

Householders claim people have been witnessed urinating in gardens and defecating in the street.

One resident said: "Many weekends nearing the end of the night at 1.30am fights, altercations, screaming and shouting wakes us up.

"In 18 months our home lives have changed dramatically due to the noise nuisance, crime and disorder.

"We are extremely anxious and sleep deprived and have become so anxious about what our weekend will pan out."

What police say

In the police's representation, licensing officer PC Chris Stockman said the council arranged a meeting at Array in July when the venue was told about a number of complaints from nearby residents.

These included customers parking "in an inconsiderate manner" around Phillida Road and "excessive" noise from Array.

He wrote that the venue told those at the meeting it would look at introducing a parking marshal at the junction of Phillida Road and Shepherds Hill to address the parking issue.

But PC Stockman said this has not been introduced.

He wrote that he attended Array on October 21 and observed a number of cars parked in Phillida Road with two wheels on the kerb.

He said he spoke to Mr Gul, who is said to have told him that Array was booking taxis for customers who lived nearby and was telling people when making phone bookings to park considerately if driving to the venue.

PC Stockman said: "The police at this time do not have confidence that the venue are able to uphold the licensing objective around preventing public nuisance."

Array's statement said: "We have seen an increase of customers to our restaurant and this has meant there has been an increase in parking."

What licensing officers say

Oisin Daly, from Havering's licensing team, also wrote that a dispersal policy has not been actioned from the July meeting.

"It would appear that the management are not giving due consideration to local residents," he said.

Mr Daly added that councillors on the licensing sub-committee, which will decide on the review, could implement a capacity limit on the venue based on the capacity of the car park.

Mike Richardson, senior public protection officer at the council, recommended a condition that music must not be played at the venue's shisha lounge Bayou or externally after 11pm if opening hours are not changed.

He wrote that the council's environmental protection team has been investigating allegations of noise nuisance since the venue opened in August 2021.

Mr Richardson said monitoring had found music from the front of the venue was not considered a public nuisance but that music from Bayou had been heard in neighbouring homes.

He called the level of the music "not excessive" but added: "Neighbours are unable to have reasonable use of their property without being irritated by the music on a regular basis, which is exacerbated into the early hours of the morning at the weekend."

In its statement, Array claimed there is "no possibility" that music or customer noise can be heard from the restaurant.

They said: "We do work with our neighbours and advise our customers to leave in a way that minimises any noise or disturbance to our neighbours."

A review hearing will take place on Wednesday, November 16.

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