Sam's Riverside Licence Decision a 'Trojan Horse'

Residents fear precedent set for more late night openings

Sam's Waterside restaurant is set for soft opening in November

October 6, 2023

There has been a mixed reaction by the decision by the borough Licensing Panel to grant Sam’s Waterside restaurant a late licence.

Councillors on the committee met this Monday (2 October) to discuss the application and agreed to operating hours that would allow the establishment to open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays as well as late on other days of the week.

Nearby residents in the newly developed flats on Brent Way had submitted objections to the plan. While most welcomed the arrival of the new upmarket restaurant, they believed that it should have similar opening time to Sam Harrison’s existing restaurant in Hammersmith.

The new venue is on track for a soft opening beginning on 6 November and Mr Harrison has informed all residents that he is willing to meet with them to discuss concerns.

He told Brentford TV, "These hours at Sam’s Waterside are about allowing diners to stay later in a high-end restaurant. For us to be financially viable, it is very important for us to be able to attract visitors to the development as a destination. Also, its important to remember that all licence applications are considered individually and on their own merits."

However, some people living in the dockside area, where units have been set aside for other bars and restaurants believe that this decision will have the effect of making the location a venue for late night centred activities.

One of the residents near the restaurant said, “There is no question that Sam’s Riverside coming to this area was a real coup for the development and I personally have no worries that it will cause any significant issues with noise or disturbance. However, it has to be seen as a ‘Trojan Horse’ which will allow the development of a cluster of businesses operate late into the night within the Brentford Project. The benchmark has been set for other bars and restaurants and, although Sam’s may rarely use its licence to its full extent, the decision opens to door to businesses that will target late night drinking.”

Sam’s Waterside at 6 Brent Way, which is owned and managed by Sam Harrison, is currently in the final stages of fitting out. It is directly across the road from Sam’s Larder, a café deli, which is already opened.