A shisha lounge has been prosecuted for a second time as part of an ongoing Ealing Council crackdown on shisha venues that break the law.
Ealing Magistrates’ Court heard that Bamboo Lounge, in Western Road, Park Royal, repeatedly ignored warnings from Ealing Council officers that smoking shisha in enclosed spaces was illegal – even after first being prosecuted for similar offences in 2019.
On 20 May 2024, shisha business operator Bamboo UK Nights Ltd and its sole director, Mr Ali Al Jibouri, of the same address as the business, both pleaded guilty at Ealing Magistrates’ Court to 3 smoke-free offences. They were ordered to pay a fine and court costs totalling £27,836.99.
Warnings ignored
The successful prosecutions make this one of the largest smoke-free fines of its kind nationally, which reflects the fact that this is the second time the business and director have found themselves in court over this issue. In 2019, the business and its director Mr Hassan Hadi, of the same address, were ordered to pay fines and costs of more than £12,600 for similar offences. (Mr Jibouri was not the director in 2019).
In May 2022, council officers carried out an unannounced visit at Bamboo Lounge to check that they were complying with smoking regulations.
Officers noted that customers were smoking shisha inside the lounge. The business was given extensive advice and guidance on being smoke-free but, despite previous warnings, it was found to be continuing to ignore the rules at subsequent visits in August 2022, February 2023, and July 2023.
Working together for a safer borough
Mary McLaughlin, the council’s team leader for food and workplace safety, said: “Our team carry out regular joint visits with licensing, anti-social behaviour/noise, and planning enforcement to shisha lounges across the borough to ensure the business is complying with regulations.”
“We are here to provide advice and guidance to local businesses to ensure they act responsibly and comply with the rules, and we will not hesitate to take strict enforcement action where there are serious and repeated non-compliances. The successful recent prosecutions of Bamboo Lounge and Sahara Lounge are great examples of this.”
If you are a shisha business operator, go to the council’s website for advice and information.
