Dominos To Try Again to Get Late Opening

Previous refusal set aside after administrative blunder

Dominos on Chiswick High Road. Picture: Google Streetview

August 12, 2025

A new meeting of the Hounslow borough Licensing Panel has been scheduled to consider Domino’s controversial licensing application for its Chiswick High Road branch.

The original application, which sought extended operating hours to 1am, was refused by the Licensing Panel on 15 July having received over 20 objections mainly from residents of Cranbrook Road. However, the decision was later declared invalid after it emerged that Cllr Ranjit Gill had participated in the vote despite not being formally appointed to the Licensing and General Purposes Committee — a prerequisite for sitting on the panel.

Council officers mistakenly believed Cllr Gill had already been appointed and included him in the meeting. In reality, he was only “to be nominated” and had undertaken licensing training in anticipation. The error has prompted frustration among residents, particularly those on Cranbrook Road, who had campaigned against the licence extension.

At a full council meeting on 22 July, Conservative Cllr Jack Emsley raised a point of order, calling the incident a “breach of the constitution.” Benita Edwards, Director of Law and Governance, confirmed the breach and apologised, stating that the meeting was not properly convened and that its decisions were “null and void.”

“The effect of that is the application remains with the licensing authority to determine,” she said.

Despite the setback, Domino’s has now resubmitted its application — apparently without amendments — for reconsideration. The move has raised eyebrows among some residents who had hoped the initial refusal would stand.

The new decision is scheduled for 1 September and will be made by a revised panel comprising Cllr Dan Bowring, Cllr Gabriella Giles, and Cllr Karamat Malik. Cllr Gill will not be on the panel.

A council spokesperson said the only additional cost incurred due to the error relates to legal support, estimated between £250 and £500. Meeting room and staff costs are covered under general overheads.