Neighbours of a butcher and grocery accused of selling alcohol and playing live music without a licence say they are "victims of abuse".

Xodo Brazil, a butcher and grocery in Cricklewood Broadway, with a café next door selling Brazilian snacks and drinks, recently applied to Brent Council to sell alcohol and play live music.

But some residents have accused the owner of already selling alcohol and playing music without a licence and causing "antisocial and dangerous behaviour" - and claim their complaints are not listened to.

In return, the shop owner claims the accusations are ‘disrupting’ his business.

In one of two objections to the licence application, one neighbour said: “This campaign includes destruction of our CCTV cameras, verbal abuse, as well as tormenting the residents by playing loud and amplified music.”

They added: “Such a licence being granted would greatly infringe on our right to a peaceful enjoyment of our home and it would just embolden the proprietors of Xodo Brazil.”

The objector claims to have proof that some drunk customers "urinate and indecently expose themselves" in the back garden and smash things with butcher’s knives.

Another resident believes they are "victims of abuse" from customers and staff of the shop and any requests to keep the noise down "are ignored".

The shop owner is "disheartened" that this may influence the outcome of his licence application, but claims to have a lot of local support.

He said: “I have been a part of this community for a significant period of time, and my interactions with the neighbours, businesses, and customers have been amicable.”

The owner wants sell alcohol between 9am and 7.30pm Monday to Saturday and until 5pm on Sunday, and play live music from 4pm to 7pm on Wednesdays.

The premises falls within a cumulative impact zone (CIZ) – areas where licences are strictly controlled to limit any problems. The zone was introduced in January 2020 to combat a rise in crimes linked to drunkenness, with a presumption new alcohol licences will not be granted.

The police have also recommended the application be refused, citing this and local crime statistics.

Figures show that there have been 213 crimes in the Cricklewood Broadway area over the past 12 months, including for drug use, theft, and assault – resulting in 46 arrests. They also point to the fact that there are currently 23 other venues that sell alcohol in the area.

Metropolitan Police officer PC Philip Bristow said: “This community does not require another venue selling alcohol which will only fuel the street crime, antisocial behaviour and create price wars between rival venues. I see no benefits in adding another venue that sells alcohol to Cricklewood Broadway with the existing crime rate.”

The application will be heard by Brent Council’s alcohol and licensing sub-committee on February 26, when a decision on whether to grant the licence will be made.