The venue has rejected claims it committed planning violations
A three-year-long dispute between a West London wedding venue and local council will come to a conclusion next week as the venue faces the threat of losing its marriage licence.
Abshar Grand Suites at Hillingdon House, a Grade II listed venue, was granted a marriage approval in December 2020. This was later renewed in April 2024.
However, alongside the licensing process, a separate planning dispute was taking palace. In July 2023, Hillingdon Council’s planning department issued an Enforcement Notice regarding the unauthorised material change of use of the ground floor and basement into a banqueting suite for private civil ceremonies, weddings and parties.
The venue appealed the notice, however a Planning Inspector dismissed the appeal in October 2025. The Inspector ordered that the banqueting use must cease within five months (by March 2026).
They concluded that the venue had caused “unacceptable harm” to the surrounding residential area. It was found that events hosting up to 200 people with amplified music, people congregating out doors and late-night activity were causing a disturbance to the residents nearby.
The Inspector found that the noise and activity levels are “entirely at odds with the otherwise relatively quiet, largely suburban residential and parkland surroundings and causing considerable and appreciable disruption to the everyday enjoyment by neighbours of their properties”.
Furthermore, the kitchen extract system in the basement of the venue did not meet requirements to prevent odour from impacting nearby residential properties. The venue also generated substantial traffic, which led to incidents of roadside parking and congestion that caused concerns for safety, the council said.
Hillingdon Council argues that under the Marriages and Civil Partnerships Regulations 2005, the use of the premises has changed in such a way that it is no longer suitable for solemnising marriages. The regulations require approved premises to be a “seemly and dignified venue for the proceedings”.
To justify linking a planning violation to a marriage licence, council officers state: “It is therefore not appropriate to consider the narrow ceremony in isolation from the wider use and operation of the premises.”
They maintain that the venue’s impacts are “inconsistent with… the requirement that approved premises be suitable for proceedings of a dignified and seemly character”, and that “the overall character and operation of the premises cannot reasonably be separated from the environment in which those proceedings take place”.
Solicitors for the venue argue that there is no basis to revoke the approval. They emphasise that a marriage ceremony is legally separate from a wedding party, stating: “Proceedings, in this context, is a term of art with a narrow meaning, the solemnisation of marriage.”
They have accused Hillingdon Council of overstepping, arguing: “It is inappropriate to (mis)use the powers conferred by the 2005 Regulations to seek to address matters covered by other legislation and entrusted to other bodies.”
Additionally, they dispute that the venue’s use has changed: “First there has been no ‘change’ in the ‘use or structure’ of the premises since the approval was granted on 26 April 2024.”
Finally, because the banqueting suite use now constitutes an illegal planning violation, they argue the council’s assumption that the harm will continue is “self-evidently irrational and not a proper or lawful basis for revocation”.
The dispute will come to a head at 10am on Thursday, July 2, at the Registrations and Appeals Committee. The meeting will be chaired by Conservative councillor, Kelly Martin.
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