Anger and Frustration After Chaotic Sipsmith Licensing Hearing

Opposition councillors demand new appointments to council panel

A Hounslow Council Licensing Panel hearing. Picture: Facebook

February 14, 2026

A Hounslow Council licensing hearing descended into confusion on Monday night (9 February) after organisational problems and the absence of senior committee leadership caused the meeting to begin almost two hours late.

The session, which examined a controversial application from Sipsmith Distillery to expand activities at its Cranbrook Road site, eventually started at 9.15pm and ran until nearly midnight.

The council has said that the delays were caused by a member of the borough legal team being taken ill, but the Conservative opposition claim that this was just one factor in the late-running of the hearing.

Around 30 residents attended in person to speak on the application, many waiting for hours in the council chamber. Several described the experience as “unacceptable”, while councillors warned that the lack of a permanent Chair or Vice-Chair is undermining confidence in the licensing process.

The Licensing Committee has been without a Chair since November 2025, when Cllr Farhaan Rehman resigned following controversy over parking a £200,000 Lamborghini in a disabled bay. The Vice-Chair position is also vacant after Cllr Aftab Siddiqui stepped down recently, accusing the Labour administration of creating a “toxic environment” and sidelining experienced councillors.

Monday’s hearing appears to have highlighted the impact of those vacancies. Two Labour councillors arrived late, and officers had to call in a legal adviser at short notice, who drove 40 minutes to attend. With only one councillor, Gabriella Giles, present at the scheduled start time, the panel could not legally proceed.

Opposition councillors said the delays reflected deeper problems. Cllr Giles said the evening “was not how a semi-judicial panel should operate”, adding that residents “took time out of their evening to engage in an important process, only to be left waiting because Labour has failed to put proper leadership in place.”

Cllr Peter Thompson said the committee “is meant to be impartial, professional and efficient”, but instead residents witnessed “confusion, delay and a lack of leadership.”

Sipsmith Distillery, based at 83 Cranbrook Road, is seeking to expand its licence to allow additional alcohol sales and activities on site. The proposal has generated significant concern among neighbours, reflected in a 199-page report pack and supplementary video evidence submitted to the council.

Many residents say the distillery has already outgrown its location and that further expansion risks changing the character of the street. Others argue that Sipsmith has been a positive local employer but that any growth must be carefully managed. Sipsmith argues that events such as gin-tastings are important for their businesses and should not have any impact on people living nearby.

Cllr John Todd, who attended to support residents, said the evening “felt amateurish and unprofessional”, adding that the delays “left many residents frustrated” and that he did not get home until after midnight.

This is not the first time licensing administration has caused difficulties for Cranbrook Road residents. In July 2025, Cllr Ranjit Gill incorrectly took part in a licensing decision despite not being a committee member at the time, prompting complaints and further scrutiny of the council’s procedures.

A Council spokesperson said, "Monday's licensing meeting was delayed due to a member of the legal team being taken ill shortly before it began. The meeting was completed successfully once a replacement stepped in."

The panel announced its decision later in the week granting an extension of the licence from noon to 9pm Monday to Friday and noon to 6pm on Saturday, less than was requested that day. The previous licence was for 5-7pm on weekday.

In addition some extra conditions were imposed on Sipsmith including a requirement for guests to be escorted to the main gates when leaving the premises. Notices must now be displayed at the front of the premises asking smokers to not smoke on Cranbrook Road and to smoke on Chiswick Lane.