A COUPLE say they are “pleased” after being given an alcohol licence for a new restaurant which had originally caused neighbours concerns.

Syed and Tahmina Jafar faced a backlash from people living around Colney Hatch Lane in Muswell Hill when applying for their licence as they feared it was for a new club or bar.

Seven people wrote to Barnet Council to ask them not to grant a new licence as it was too close to the Minstrel Boy and Keenan pubs, which they said were blighted by anti-social behaviour.

However, three of those retracted their objections when they were told by Mr Jafar the new place would be an Indian restaurant on the site of the Raj Villa, operating in a similar way.

Mrs Jafar explained: “We want the new restaurant to be just like the old one and have a family ethos.

“We're both Muslims so we get annoyed when you go to restaurants and find there is no real provision for alternatives to alcohol, so we will be making sure mocktails and soft drinks are pushed.

“We're hoping to make our business very much a part of this community.”

She added they would not be playing loud music, mostly background music with occasional classical Indian groups, and would not serve anyone deemed to be drunk with alcohol.

But councillors on the committee still had a problem with the application, which asked for an outdoor patio space to be licensed until 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays.

Mrs Jafar explained the area was walled off, but admitted it was not large enough to stop noise travelling out of the area.

Granting the licence, allowing the restaurant to open until midnight Sunday to Thursday and 1pm Fridays and Staurday, councillors restricted the opening of the patio area until 11pm during the week and 11.30pm at weekends.