Illegal Shisha bar found guilty

Tower Hamlets Council successfully prosecuted a shisha bar operating illegally in Bow.

La Fa Yaa Shisha Lounge on Roach Road, Bow was found guilty of not preventing the smoking of shisha in an enclosed place.

The council’s Smoke Free Team successfully prosecuted the shisha bar at a hearing at Thames Magistrates Court on March 19.

Leaseholder Mr Shiplu Miah was found guilty having failed to stop the illegal smoking of shisha indoors, an offence under the Health Act 2006.

He was fined £800 and ordered to pay costs of £2,548.28 and an £80 victim surcharge.

The council works with the Metropolitan Police and other agencies to ensure illegal shisha bars are compliant with smoke free legislation.

Should you require further advice or information, or you want to report an illegal shisha premises, contact Tower Hamlets Council on 020 7364 5008 or email

Notes to Editors

1. Smoke Free and Consumer and Business Regulations Officers work in partnership with the police. They continue to carry out surveillance work and, where they suspect that shisha bar owners are not compliant with the Health Act 2006, will obtain a warrant from the courts and visit the concerned premises.
2. The council and our partners continue to work together and will not hesitate to take enforcement action against traders and perpetrators that break the law. Users of shisha should be made aware of the health issues related to inhaling fruit flavoured and tobacco-related shisha products.
3. The law states that water pipes (hookah) can be smoked in the open air where there is no roof or ceiling above the smoker. They can also be smoked in some circumstances where there is a roof or ceiling, but only if at least half of the walls of the structure are permanently open (generally, 50 per cent of the total wall area).
4. Traders must take suitable precautions to ensure shisha bars do not sell tobacco-related products to people under the age of 18 years old. They must display a large (A3 size) notice stating: “It is illegal to supply tobacco products to anyone under the age of 18.” Supplying tobacco products to a person under 18 can result in a fine of up to £2,500 and for persistent sellers, the premises being be banned from selling tobacco products.