Ealing (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Two Park Royal shisha restaurants have been fined thousands after repeatedly flouting smoking laws, despite multiple warnings from Ealing Council.
Despite earlier warnings that shisha smoking was prohibited, council officers found the activity occurring in enclosed areas at both establishments, according to testimony given before the Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court last month in Ealing (19 August 2025).
Ali Bidarbakht, the director of the Terrace Bakery on Chase Road, entered a guilty plea to violations of the smoke-free laws. A £1,400 fine, £1,600.70 in court costs, and a £560 victim surcharge were imposed on Bidarbakht.
The company continued to permit customers to smoke shisha indoors after the prosecution made numerous warnings and conducted two surprise visits.
Meriem Harchi, the director of MRYB Ltd, which operates as Alaturca Lounge on Coronation Road, also entered a guilty plea to comparable charges.
Prior to opening, Harchi acknowledged that he had neglected to register the establishment as a food business, as required by law.
Officers were first refused entry to Alaturca Lounge during an unannounced inspection in November 2024, but they later discovered shisha pipes and a potent shisha-like odor inside. Despite “no smoking” posters on the wall, two patrons were spotted smoking during a follow-up visit with police officials in January 2025.
Since 2023, 14 companies in the borough have faced prosecution and fines totaling over £61,000 under the Smokefree (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations 2006 and the Health Act 2006.
Councillor Kamaljit Nagpal, Ealing Council’s cabinet member for decent living incomes, said:
“Tackling unsafe shisha operations is part of our commitment to keep our residents safe and healthy.”
Councillor Nagpal added:
“Every business has a duty to operate responsibly. When they repeatedly ignore warnings of the smoking law, we will take decisive action to uphold safety standards and protect our residents.”
Why did these shisha restaurants ignore repeated council warnings?
Operators prioritize continued business to generate revenue, sometimes viewing fines and warnings as a cost of doing business rather than a deterrent. The fines and enforcement actions may be seen as insufficiently punitive, allowing businesses to absorb them without seriously altering their practices.
Some operators either underestimate the seriousness of legal requirements or choose to disregard smoke-free laws and licensing rules to keep offering shisha indoors. Shisha lounges often cater to clientele expecting indoor smoking, making it difficult for owners to comply without risking customer loss.
Some operators actively resist council inspections, deny access to officers, or fail to register properly, complicating enforcement.