Glasgow takeaway on Pollokshaws Road hit with severe warning after opening late without licence

A Glasgow takeaway has been hit with a severe warning after opening late without a licence in place.

Flames on Pollokshaws Road continued to operate until 1am for over two years, when it should have been closed by 11pm.

When Zen Ahmed took over the premises, he hadn’t realised he needed to apply for a new late hours catering licence.

He stopped opening to 1am after licensing officers flagged up the error – but trade then fell “through the floor”.

Licensing chiefs at Glasgow City Council have agreed to grant him a licence, allowing the takeaway to return to opening until 1am, but only for a restricted period of one year, rather than the three requested.

Mr Ahmed was also given a severe warning over his future management of the venue.

Licensing lawyer Archie MacIver, representing Mr Ahmed, said when his client took over the premises “probably the best part of three years ago”, the premises had a licence.

However, he said Mr Ahmed who “worked in late hours catering premises for many years hasn’t been in the position of being a licence holder”. He hadn’t realised he needed to get one.

Mr MacIver said the takeaway had stopped trading late “as soon as it was brought to his attention”. “The effect of that has been quite dramatic,” he added.

“The turnover has gone through the floor. At one point they had eight staff, that was then reduced to three as they tried to soldier on with the 11pm cessation.

“The premises has been shut for the past month, it’s just not viable.”

Councillors on the licensing committee were also told flats near the takeaway had provided letters in support of Mr Ahmed’s plans to open late again.

Mr MacIver said there had been no complaints about the takeaway during the period it was unlicensed. Committee chairman Cllr Alex Wilson, SNP, said that was “just as well”.