Published: Thursday 8 October 2026
The director of a shisha lounge in South Kensington was fined nearly £5,000 after our Trading Standards officers found people smoking in enclosed areas of the premises not suitable for shisha smoking.
Soumia Belfaquih, the director of NHN Cakes Limited trading as Aljawhara Gardens in Lexham Gardens pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 8 of the Health Act 2006. On Wednesday 30 September at Westminster Magistrates' Court, Ms Belfaquih was asked to pay a total of £4,978 which included a £1,000 fine, the Council's legal costs of £3,578 and a victim surcharge of £400.
Cllr Johnny Thalassites, lead member for resident services, planning, and enforcement, said:
“Our Trading Standards officers are on a mission to help businesses operate in a responsible way for people to safely enjoy the amazing spaces that Kensington and Chelsea has on offer.
“In this case, repeated warnings and advice from our officers fell on deaf ears as the business operator chose to put members of the public at risk instead of taking the necessary steps to prevent it in the first place.
“This prosecution shows our commitment to hold wrongdoers responsible for their actions and to ensure they stick by the rules.”
Why did we decide to prosecute?
Director Soumia Belfaquih ignored repeated warnings and advice from our Trading Standards officers to bring the shisha lounge into compliance. We decided to proceed with prosecution to prevent reoccurrence of the alleged smoking offence as well as protecting residents from harm.
How serious is the offence?
The smoking of tobacco or nicotine in an enclosed smoke free premises can pose risks to public health such as :
- The burning of coals and wood cinders that are used in shisha smoking are known to emit dangerous levels of carbon monoxide within a smoke free premises.
- The smoking of shisha could also have an adverse effect on inhaling potential chemicals and toxins that could cause adverse respiratory reactions from either the shisha smoker or individuals who are present whilst shisha smoking is being conducted in a smoke free premises.
What is Section 8 of the Health Act 2006
Section 8 of the Health Act 2006 places a legal duty on anyone responsible for managing or controlling smoke-free premises to take reasonable steps to stop people from smoking in those premises.