Love Islander's restaurant Array Essex has opening hours cut

Array, which was opened by Mr Cetinay, from Essex, and his partner, Bilal Gul, in 2021, was called in to have its premises licence reviewed by ward councillors Darren Wise, Brian Eagling and Martin Goode. 

They claimed that over 18 months, neighbours within a half-mile radius of the premises in Shepherds Hill, Harold Wood, have been affected by crime and disorder – failing to promote licensing objectives. 

• READ MORE: Claims of gang fights, speeding and drug use outside Love Island star's restaurant

Public concerns peaked last month when a 33-year-old man was stabbed outside Array.

Havering Council's licensing sub-committee heard from residents, police, councillors, council officers and representatives from Array over a mammoth-two day hearing that ended yesterday (December 5).

The first day of the hearing on Thursday (December 1) included allegations of incidents including street brawls and “drug use” on the venue's premises. 

The hearing continued yesterday (December 5), with Array’s legal team tackling several of the claims made. 

Barrister David Dadds, a Basildon Council councillor and representative for Array, described the premises as “a very good local employer, employing up to 50 people”. 

He defended the venue against issues relating to noise, stating Array has increased its regulation and reduced the volume. 

He added that a dispersal plan, something PC Chris Stockman said he had heard nothing about during Thursday’s hearing, has been worked on since July, primarily due to issues with car parking. 

This is in addition to hiring a marshal, partly to discourage people from parking on the road in front of the venue. 

However, he said it is not a criminal offence to park on the highway.

Kem Cetinay (l) and Nadir Gul (r) opened Array in 2021 (Image: Sally Patterson)

Mr Dadds also said he believed there was “exaggeration” from residents regarding parking. 

“I think generally people do not want people parking outside the front of their house where people have not parked historically on the highway, but unfortunately that’s not a licensing objective,” he said. 

He also questioned why the ward councillors had called for the licence review, claiming they had a good relationship with Array until the venue stopped providing them with hospitality. 

This followed similar comments made during Thursday’s hearing, accusations Cllrs Wise and Eagling had repeatedly denied. 

An independent licensing consultant hired by Array, Adrian Studd, also spoke on behalf of the venue. 

He told the committee that when he recently visited the venue between the hours of 9pm and 1am, he found Array seemed to “reflect good practice”, with no disturbance or parking issues. 

The Array team were questioned over the extent to which the noise and behaviour had been improved, with one resident telling the panel the previous Saturday (December 3) was particularly bad. 

She also claimed there had been further instances of people smoking weed and double parking on both sides of the road, and there had been no improvements despite the recent closure of the shisha area. 

Following the hearing, the panel decided to cut the closing times for Sunday to Thursday from midnight to 11pm, and Friday and Saturday from 1am to midnight. 

Further conditions will be published on Havering Council’s website and circulated within five working days, with Array having 21 days to submit an appeal to the magistrates’ court. 

According to Companies House, Mr Cetinay resigned as a director of the company that owns Array on November 25.