A CHINESE takeaway in South London accused of infuriating neighbours with noisy karaoke nights has been granted a licence to sell booze.  

Fed-up neighbours claim Good Friends restaurant in Deptford has been holding late-night karaoke parties and regularly disturbing them with “unbearable” noise. 

They became more concerned when the restaurant applied to Lewisham Council to extend its opening hours until 2am every night for karaoke, music, and selling booze. 

But after an objection from the council, Good Friends backtracked and only asked to sell alcohol until 11pm and food until 12am. 

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A Good Friends representative told a Lewisham licensing committee on Tuesday (September 14) that they had “made mistakes” with noise in the past and pleaded for a “chance to do the right thing”.  

Committee members heard from the restaurant, police, and Lewisham’s Crime and Regulation (CER) service. 

A decision published on September 20 showed that committee members granted the application. 

To keep the licence Good Friends must abide by 28 conditions, including installing a “comprehensive” CCTV system and noise limiter, allowing no glasses outside, and closing the outdoor seating area by 10pm. 

Customers should “not to loiter outside and cause nuisance to residents either by making noise or drinking in any way”.  

A log must be kept for any incidents related to the venue, such as crimes or complaints from the public.  

Doors and windows must be kept closed after 9pm to make sure the noise “will not impact the local community, especially on nights where karaoke is taking place”. 

According to the decision letter: “Members of the committee agreed that the granting of the premises licence would ensure that the four licensing objectives were upheld.

“It was also considered important that all conditions should be attached to the licence to protect local residents.” 

The council’s Crime Enforcement Regulation (CER) service and police raised concerns about noise at the meeting. 

CER officer Frank Olaniran said the service has “grave concerns” about noise coming from the venue. 

But restaurant rep Jill Hou asked that the venue be given a chance.  

She said: “You have to give people a chance to do the right thing and we are asking for that to happen but nobody is helping us to have those conversations. 

“How do you want us to resolve this because we don’t know who these people [complaining] are. 

“How can we knock on their doors and ask did they make a complaint. 

“We are taking action – it’s just we have not been able to tell people what we’re doing.

“We are taking action and you can’t keep on judging us by the past, it was a genuine mistake.”