Controversial shisha bar in busy Northampton street appeals council's plan to shut it down for good

Bada Bing Lounge, in Wellingborough Road, was set to be closed and demolished after West Northamptonshire Council refused retrospective planning permission earlier this year.

The venue is located in a rear terrace structure behind Sultan’s Kitchen on land at the former St Edmund’s Hospital site, which is owned by Rochmills Ltd.

The owners built the structure in December 2023 without planning permission. A retrospective application was refused by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) in February this year on the grounds that “its siting and design would result in an unacceptable form of development” and that insufficient information had been provided “for planning officers to assess the impact of the proposed development on the amenity of neighbouring properties.”

In September, WNC said the owners had not sought to appeal the decision, it is proceeding with enforcement action requiring the premises to close and the building to be removed by December 12.

However, that has now changed after the Bada Bing owners appealed the decision.

A WNC spokesman said: “The developer has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate, which means any enforcement action is in abeyance until that decision is made.”

Reform councillor Thomas Manning, cabinet member for planning and communities, previously said: “Developers can’t just do whatever they want and expect to get away with it.

“It is never a good idea for anyone to go ahead and build properties without checking with us whether planning permission is needed. Seeking that after a structure is built doesn’t guarantee it will be granted.

“Sometimes, as is the case here, the negative impact of the development will be greater than the potential benefits, so that permission will be refused.

“This means the café will need to be closed, and the building will have to be removed in line with the enforcement notice, which will go out shortly.”

Bada Bing Lounge in Wellingborough Road has also been the subject of repeated complaints from residents, council officers and police, as well as a licensing review in which WNC officials recommended its licence be revoked altogether.

In July, this newspaper reported that the business had kept its licence despite allegations of breaching all four licensing objectives, including hosting loud, DJ-led events well past its permitted hours. Council officers recorded music as late as 4.20am on several occasions, describing the noise between 9pm and 3am on weekends as “highly intrusive” and “likely to cause sleep disturbance.”

The licence for Bada Bing is held by Balkan Breeze Ltd and names 32-year-old Elsart Xhebexhia as the designated premises supervisor.