A ‘TikTok famous’ takeaway with a zero-star food hygiene rating is making neighbours’ lives a misery as they’re kept awake at night by constant noise, litter and fights. 

Families living on the Bourne Estate in Camden, central London, have claimed Lebanese Grill Express on Leather Lane is ruining their lives. 

Despite years of documented complaints to Camden Council, the Met Police and the kebab shop itself, the takeaway continues to serve customers from dusk until dawn.

Residents have said they are ‘desperate’ for the Lebanese Grill Express to be shut down, claiming the eatery plays music until 1am ‘every day of the week’ with deliveries beginning as early as 5.30am and chimney smoke polluting the air for ’14 to 15 hours’. 

However the owner allegedly had previously dismissed neighbours’ concerns as ‘racism’ and accused the police and council of incompetence. 

For the past five years families have put up with the anti-social behaviour, which they have claimed stems from the takeaway. 

But they have now decided enough is enough as they fear for their children’s safety, as the area is compared to the ‘Wild West’.  

Some residents have said it’s got so bad they want to move away altogether.

A police van is pictured as dozens of diners gather outside Lebanese Grill Express on Leather Lane in Camden, central London 

Neighbours have claimed anti-social behaviour pouring out of the kebab shop has ruined their lives 

Pictured: The remnants of takeaway meals bought by punters at Lebanese Grill Express littered on the ground nearby 

One woman, who lives on the Bourne Estate with her two children, says Lebanese Grill Express appears to be ‘above the law’.

The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: ‘If this were happening in Chelsea or Hampstead, the place would be shut down. 

‘This is the most deprived area in Camden, that’s why all this is allowed to happen. The company is dissolved and they have a zero food hygiene rating, yet they are still there.

‘They are making people’s lives a misery and they seem to be above the law. My child goes to bed at nine o’clock, but music is playing until 1am every day of the week. Why do we have to put up with this?’ 

Lebanese Grill Express is famed on social media for serving large portions of meat with salad, rice and chips for a low price.

After opening in 2021, a meeting was held between the restaurant’s owners, local residents, police and the local council to find ways to reduce the disruption that had already begun.

At another meeting two years later, after matters hadn’t improved, residents claimed Lebanese Grill Express’ owner accused the police and council of incompetence and residents of racism.

Last November the restaurant’s late-night licence was reviewed on the basis of pollution, which later led to it being revoked. 

Two police officers are pictured on the streets outside the restaurant, where residents have reported loud noise, litter and fights, at night

The Food Standards Agency have rated the kebab shop’s food hygiene as ‘zero’ out of five stars following an inspection in February 

The FSA deemed ‘major improvements’ were ‘necessary’ in hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building, and management of food safety

However the decision was appealed, meaning the restaurant can still operate until 1am until their appeal is heard.

It was given a zero-star food hygiene rating by the Food Standards Agency in February, which determined that ‘major improvements’ were ‘necessary’ in hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and building, and management of food safety. 

To add to residents’ misery, they say loud deliveries to the takeaway begin as early as 5:30am before the chimney begins puffing at 9am.

‘You only have two hours to sleep, if you can,’ the resident continued. ‘I can’t sleep. I’m exhausted.

‘At 9am the smoke starts. At 11am they open their doors. From then until 1am – 14 to 15 hours – we have the smoke.

‘At around 3pm all the schoolkids come, driven by social media, to eat.

‘At around six o’clock is when the fun starts: fights, vehicles playing loud music, urinating, eating on top of cars.

‘Residents can’t even send their children to Sainsbury’s. It isn’t safe for our kids anymore. It’s like the Wild West.

Multiple bags from the kebab shop are littered on the ground next to a nearby bin

‘These people have ruined my life. My peace and tranquillity are gone. The disruption is always happening.

‘It’s a hub for delinquents. It takes your sanity away. They have caused us so much pain over the years.

‘People are afraid. They don’t know what’s going to happen. Does someone have to die? Is that what we are waiting for?’ 

Another Bourne Estate resident said she and her neighbours were ‘desperate’ to get the kebab shop shut down.

‘The issues are escalating,’ the mum-of-two said. ‘Everyone on the Bourne Estate is directly affected.

‘The smoke from the Lebanese Grill chimney causes a huge problem. You can’t have your windows open.

‘At about 5pm, teenagers from all over London come to do TikTok videos. That, in itself, causes problems with noise.

‘But then there’s violence and fighting, suped-up cars that turn up late in the evening, driving up and down Leather Lane. Some people have even had fireworks fired at their windows.

One resident said: ‘When it’s cold or raining, they gain access to our estate and eat inside the blocks.’ Pictured: Takeaway bags and boxes scattered in one of the housing blocks

‘Then there’s the level of noise and the fear factor, which is real. People don’t want to go out on Leather Lane after the market’s gone.

‘It’s not a safe area to walk around now. A lot of women have told me they don’t feel safe. If they were just going to Lebanese Grill and then going away, it would be fine.

‘But they’re hanging around the area, using seating on the estate, using the children’s playground and leaving all their rubbish behind.

‘When it’s cold or raining, they gain access to our estate and eat inside the blocks. Lebanese Grill say whatever happens outside their shop is not anything to do with them.

‘They say anything against Lebanese Grill is down to racism, which is not true. We don’t understand why they’re being allowed to continue like this. It’s ridiculous.

‘It’s got so bad that people want to move. They don’t leave their houses after a certain time.

‘I’ve asked teenagers why they come and they say: “The food’s good and it’s cheap”. But it’s just because it’s viral. We want it shut down. We’re desperate.’ 

A Camden Council spokesperson said: ‘We removed the late-night licence for Lebanese Grill Express in November due to ongoing noise and disturbance issues.

‘This decision has been appealed, meaning the venue can continue to trade until the appeal has been determined by the court.

‘Our community safety team will continue to tackle anti-social behaviour and offer reassurance to residents, ahead of the appeal hearing which is scheduled for August.’

A spokesperson for the Met Police added: ‘Officers are aware of ongoing reports of anti-social behaviour in and around the Lebanese Grill Express on Leather Lane, Farringdon.

‘Since these issues have come to light, police have increased patrols at the location to address the anti-social behaviour and reassure the local community.

‘In December, the business underwent a licensing review, during which the Met made representations to the panel in support of the revocation of the premises’ late-night licence.

‘Camden Council subsequently made the decision to revoke the business’s licence.

‘We understand this decision has since been appealed and as a result, the establishment is still operating.

‘We continue to work closely with partners to explore all options to address concerns at the venue.’