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A specialist cigar shop serving alcohol is set to open in West London. Councillors on the Hillingdon Council planning committee voted in favour of the proposals on Thursday (May 28).
Following discussions with the council, the proposals for the Northwood Store were amended to ensure alcohol sales stop 30 minutes before the premises closes. The shop will open Monday to Thursday 10am until 11pm, Friday and Saturday, 9am until midnight and Sunday 9am until 11pm.
The Smoking Jacket already has a number of stores in London, mostly concentrated in Kensington. The proposed Designated Premises Supervisor, Sonal Metha, told the committee it is “not a bar or nightclub”, but rather “a place where people can explore and experience luxury retail products.”
Rather than a traditional drinking venue, the applicant states the intention is to "provide a quiet, experience-led setting for cigar and whisky appreciation" within a "controlled, predominantly seated environment." It will operate at a capacity of 12 people inside, and 12 people outside in a garden area.
Several objections were raised by people living nearby, as well as a local residents associations, concerned that the shop would “impose” on a residential area. Ms Metha told the hearing that she is not intending to impose, but to contribute to the area where she lives and raises a family.
Michael Addison, a local resident, said: “While our view is that there is no demand for this establishment locally, there is a risk that a much greater percentage of people will want to consume alcohol on the premises especially after 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays."
Similar concerns were echoed by the Northwood Residents’ Association: “The use is different to a pub where groups go and one of the group goes alcohol free, and with a large car park on-site. Here it will be rather more based on individual customers who will smoke outside, drink, and then drive, because there is unlikely to be enough customers for cigars within walking distance."
Leaseholders at the nearby True Lovers Court also raised alarms with the proposals. A letter written on behalf of the tenants reads: “The potential for noise, even from a small group, can still impact the surrounding neighbourhood, especially during the very late-night operations. The idea of a calm and controlled environment does not fully alleviate the possibility of disturbances, as social gatherings often produce unexpected levels of noise."
Responding to these concerns, Sonal Mehta, asserted that the business is primarily a retail environment rather than a bar or nightclub. She emphasised that the space is designed for a low-capacity, seated, and calm environment with no external speakers. To address concerns, she offered to actively monitor external areas and accept an additional condition requiring outdoor drinkers to be seated.
She stated in her representation: “I would like to reiterate that the premises is not intended to operate as a pub, bar, or nightclub. It is a specialist retail business, with approximately 60% of activity dedicated to cigar sales and 30% to the sale of premium wines and spirits for off-premises consumption."
At the end of the hearing, Cllr Darran Davies thanked attendees for what he described as “one of the best representations I think we have seen for a long time.” Returning the committee’s decision, he confirmed the premises will be subject to an additional 13 conditions.
This includes holding working CCTV, displaying signage urging people to keep quiet when leaving, and maintaining an incident log. No more than 24 people will be allowed on site at a time.
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