The decision on a late-night licence at a student cafe in Bradford has been deferred to allow the owner time to talk to environmental health officers after concerns about shisha being smoked inside the premises.

An application was made for the Hookahs cafe on the ground floor of the Campus House student accommodation block, in Hey Street, Listerhills, to play music and offer late night refreshment until 1am daily.

Strong objections to the licence were made by Bradford Council’s environmental team, after an officer spotted customers smoking shisha pipes indoors, which is against smoking regulations.

But at yesterday’s meeting of the Bradford Licensing Panel, councillors were concerned about whether issuing the licence for food and music would be seen to be endorsing any potentially illegal activities. It also emerged that the allegations of breaking the smoking ban were likely to result in the cafe being prosecuted through the courts.

Chairman of the panel, Councillor John Ruding (left), said they had decided to defer making a decision because they wanted the applicant to discuss matters with the environmental health team.

They also wanted Amir Hussain, of Yeme architects, who was representing the cafe at the panel, to discuss three potential conditions with his client.