A shisha Lounge in Edgware and its owner have been ordered to pay £6643.50 for putting public health at risk.
- Shisha allowed in fully enclosed premises despite warnings
- Public health put at risk due to smoke inhalation
- More than £6k penalty issued to owner
Lunaa Lounge breached the national health and safety regulations which prohibit venues from smoking indoors. They allowed customers to smoke shisha indoors. Numerous warnings and guidance to comply with the law went unheeded.
Officers from Commercial Safety Team first became aware that the business is planning to serve shisha in 2021 after being alerted that a structure is being built to serve shisha.
Since April 2021, various attempts were made by officers to support the owner Mr Almarzoq to remedy the issues. Despite advice, followed by warnings, no action was taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of customers. The management claimed the structure was there for security purposes and that shutters were open during trading hours. They also claimed they were not aware of the requirement to display a ‘no smoking’ sign.
During a visit in November 2023, officers saw the roof of the lounge fully enclosed with customers inhaling and exhaling shisha smoke. Environmental Health officers had no choice but to take the matter to court.
At Willesden Magistrates Court on 18 July, the company and owner pleaded guilty to offences and were ordered to pay £6,643.50 in total for allowing their customers to smoke indoors and for a lack of smoking signs. The sentence was made up of fines, costs awarded to the council and a victim surcharge.
Cllr Pritesh Patel, Cabinet Member for Cleaner Streets and Public Safety said:
“Shisha lounge owners should be well aware of the harmful effects of second-hand smoking. The national ban on smoking in enclosed areas is not something new, so there is no excuse for flouting the law.
“Almarzoq and his company had numerous attempts to comply with the law. He decided to ignore our warnings, so we took him to court. I hope this sends a message to anyone else who thinks they can operate like this. We will continue to support local businesses to comply with the law and encourage any shisha business to seek our advice to ensure they are compliant with the law.”