The owners of 2 shisha restaurants in Park Royal have been ordered by a court to pay thousands of pounds after ignoring warnings of the smoking law.
On 19 August, Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court heard that Ealing Council officers found shisha smoking taking place in enclosed spaces at both businesses.
Since 2023, 14 businesses in the borough have been taken to court and fined a total of more than £61,000 for breaching the Health Act 2006 and the Smokefree (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006.
Warnings ignored
Terrace Bakery, in Chase Road in Park Royal, and its director, Ali Bidarbakht, of Jubilee House in Townsend Lane, London, pleaded guilty to breaches of smokefree legislation. Mr Bidarbakht was ordered to pay a £1,400 fine, £1,600.70 court costs, and £560 victim surcharge.
The prosecution followed 2 unannounced visits from council officers and repeated warnings that smoking shisha in enclosed spaces was against the law.
Terrace Bakery failed to act on previous advice and continued to allow customers to smoke in the premises.
Access denied
MRYB Ltd, trading as Alaturca Lounge, in Coronation Road, in Park Royal, and its director Meriem Harchi of Collings Building in NW2, also pleaded guilty to a smokefree offence, as well as a failure to register a food business. Ms Harchi was ordered to pay a £600 fine, £160 court costs, and £240 victim surcharge.
In November 2024, council officers carried out an unannounced visit at Alaturca Lounge to check if it was complying with smoking regulations. Officers were stopped from entering the business and the entrance door was locked. After eventually entering, officers noticed a strong, sweet smell which resembled shisha and then found prepared shisha pipes.
During the inspection, officers also found that Ms Harchi had taken ownership of the business, but had failed to register as a food business, which is legally required 28 days before its opening.
During another visit in January 2025 by council’s officers and the police, they found 2 people smoking shisha despite ‘no smoking’ signs on the wall behind where they were seated.
Keeping residents safe
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, the council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, said: “Tackling unsafe shisha operations is part of our commitment to keep our residents safe and healthy.
“Every business has a duty to operate responsibly. When they repeatedly ignore warnings of the smoking law, we will take decisive action to uphold safety standards and protect our residents.”
Dangers of shisha
Smoking shisha can seriously damage your health.
Shisha tobacco carries the same health risks as other tobacco containing products such as cigarettes. The shisha smoke has harmful chemicals and there are recognised adverse effects – the most directly on the individuals using waterpipes, and from secondary smoke and fumes.
Visit the NHS website for advice on quitting smoking.
