A proposed new Italian restaurant was granted an alcohol licence despite concerns its garden could be a “nightmare” for neighbours.

Brent Council’s licensing committee last week approved an application by Orfeo, in Chamberlayne Road, Kensal Green.

The restaurant will be able to serve alcohol until 11.30pm each night, play recorded music, and have customers outside.

But following concerns from several neighbours about the impact of a back garden, the committee added a series of conditions to the licence.

These include a 10.30pm curfew and a ban on smoking and music in the outdoor area.

Furthermore, applicant Carmine Di Liso suggested limiting the number of people outside to “around 12 to 14 people” at any one time and proposed closing the garden in the winter months.

Opponents had pushed for a complete ban on using the outdoor space, given the impact noise and pollution would have on their homes.

They suggested the initial proposal of using the area until midnight each evening would “create chaos” and “make life a nightmare”.

Objector Martin Finn said the situation would be “unbearable”, while fellow neighbour Caroline McAteer said it would be “a disaster”.

The committee agreed there would inevitably be some impact on neighbouring homes and subsequently added the conditions relating to the garden.

However, it suggested the wider opening hours proposed were “reasonable”, while a restaurant would be less likely to suffer noise issues at closing times when compared to a pub or nightclub.

It added it was “satisfied” the premises had adequate fire safety measures in place following an independent survey – another point questioned by the objectors.