Pierluigi’s in Beckenham refused to hand over CCTV footage in relation to an alleged theft that took place at the restaurant last December
A Beckenham restaurant is to have its licence reviewed for the third time in three years after police raised “serious concerns” about its management.
The Met Police believe the owners of Pierluigi’s in Beckenham High Street have displayed “a lack of responsibility and engagement” after delaying and refusing to provide full CCTV footage from a night where an alleged theft took place last December.
Italian eatery Pierluigi’s has been embroiled in a battle to retain its premises licence for more than a year. Concerns about the restaurant were first raised by neighbours, who complained of late night noise and nuisance on weekends.
Pierluigi’s was later criticised by Bromley Council for sending cease and desist letters to two residents who had made representations against them at licensing hearings.
The letters were described as “threats” and “scare tactics” and condemned as “appalling”, but Pierluigi’s defended them as acoustic modelling it commissioned found the restaurant was “extremely unlikely to cause any noise disturbance” to the residents in their Kelsey Park Road homes.
The noise complaints have been linked to Pierluigi’s ‘vibe-dining’ business model, which involves diners being accompanied by a DJ playing music while enjoying their meals. Bromley Council previously ruled that the events were “inappropriate for a restaurant in a largely residential area”.
Bromley Council’s nuisance and anti-social behaviour team submitted a premises licence review in December 2024 which was heard on March 12, 2025. As a result of the review conditions were added to Pierluigi’s licence which essentially prevents the restaurant from continuing to operate its vibe-dining events.
Pierluigi’s argued these events are vital to keep the restaurant financially viable. The restaurant appealed the licence review decision to Bromley Magistrates’ Court and it continues to trade as before the licence review until the appeal is heard in court. Pierluigi’s was also subject to a licence review in 2022.
Alleged theft in December 2025
The restaurant is now up for its third premises licence review in as many years after police criticised the restaurant’s management in response to an alleged theft that occurred there last December. According to police documents, a woman entered the restaurant shortly after midnight on December 6 and left at around 1am on December 7.
Soon after leaving, she discovered her handbag containing her house keys and purse had been stolen and later learned her bank card had been used fraudulently to pay a £48 taxi fare. She returned to the restaurant just after 2am to check if her bag had been located but staff told her nothing had been handed in.
Following the alleged theft, police made repeated requests to Pierluigi’s for a copy of CCTV footage from 11.45pm on December 6 to 2am on December 7 which covered the restaurant’s internal and external areas in order to investigate the incident.
This footage was eventually provided to police on December 22 but it only covered the front of the venue which is “not what the Police requested and need to fully investigate the reported crime”.
An email chain between Sofia Martin, Pieruigi’s director, and PC Tina Dandridge reveals that restaurant staff reviewed the CCTV footage and confirmed that all female guests were seen leaving with a bag. Ms Martin questioned whether the alleged theft took place within the restaurant and also explained she had been having trouble in downloading the footage to pass on to police.
Restaurant refuses to hand over CCTV
PC Dandridge made repeated requests to view CCTV footage from the night in question, eventually visiting Pierluigi’s in person on December 15. According to PC Dandridge, upon arrival Ms Martin handed a phone to her with Pierluigi’s legal representative David Dadds on the line, in which he stated he wanted the police to complete more forms in order to access the footage.
The report said: “I handed Ms Martin back her mobile phone and explained that we simply needed to view the CCTV to assist in progressing a live investigation, Ms Martin became upset and said she didn’t want things to be the way they were to which I explained that she was following her legal advice which ultimately was denying us access to the CCTV.”
Following this, police requested a review of Pierluigi’s premises licence under the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective. In its review application the Met also noted previous occasions where it had encountered problems with the restaurant, notably when it had failed to provide CCTV footage following a reported sexual assault in June 2025.
Police have also posited that the victim’s statement from December 7 suggests Pierluigi’s was open later than its permitted licensed hours. On the night in question, the restaurant was meant to cease alcohol sales at midnight and close by 12.30am.
Bromley Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee will meet on Wednesday, February 25 to conduct the restaurant’s premises licence review.
Got a story? email cameron.blackshaw@reachplc.com
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