A venue popular with stars from The Only Way Is Essex has failed in an appeal to keep its licence.
Melin Chigwell lost its late-night licence in January 2021 after being accused of holding several parties the previous year when Covid laws were in place.
The bar continued to operate as usual for two years by appealing Redbridge Council’s licensing decision to a magistrates’ court, where the case was repeatedly delayed.
A judge at Romford Magistrates’ Court dismissed Melin’s appeal last month.
Councillor Paul Canal, Conservative group leader on the council who previously branded Melin a “Covid-19 factory”, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service he is “jubilant” at the news.
The ruling means Melin Chigwell can no longer sell alcohol at any time, sell hot food between 11pm and 5am, or offer any regulated entertainment between 11pm and 8am.
Regulated entertainment includes playing recorded music or performing live music and dance.
The bar lost its licence after the police recorded 13 incidents between May and November 2020 at its “opulent” venue in Woodford Bridge, which serves Mediterranean food and offers live entertainment.
At an urgent review by a Redbridge Council licensing sub-committee in January 2021, bar owner Ali Melin, 45, lost his license to sell alcohol at any time or to serve hot food and provide live entertainment late at night.
In August last year, while awaiting the outcome of the magistrates’ court appeal, Melin made a separate application to Redbridge Council for later opening hours.
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The licensing committee refused, saying it had “no trust” in the bar or its owner.
A police statement, published in response to the application, claimed Mr Melin had faked a doctor’s letter to avoid flying back from Dubai for the urgent review in January 2021.
The police also accused the owner of “frustrating” an investigation into an alleged sexual assault at Melin in January 2022.
Cllr Canal described the judge's decision as "a victory first and foremost for residents".
He said there is "no place" in Redbridge for an operator like Mr Melin.
“I thank the police and the council’s licensing officers for their unstinting efforts and hope that we recover our costs in full", Cllr Canal added.
Melin has been approached for comment but has not responded at the time of publication.
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