Cin Cin Brighton Risks Losing Drinks Licence in Extractor Fan Dispute With Neighbour

Cin Cin on Western Road in Hove is one of Brighton's most celebrated Italian restaurants. It now faces a formal licence review over an extractor fan dispute that has been running since May 2025.

One of Brighton and Hove's most celebrated Italian restaurants risks losing its drinks licence after a neighbour asked the city council to formally review it following a dispute over an extractor fan installed at the back of the premises.

Cin Cin Italian Bar and Kitchen on Western Road in Hove — which appeared in our guide to the best restaurants in Brighton — is at the centre of a dispute that has been running for over a year. A licensing panel made up of three Brighton and Hove City Council councillors is due to consider the case and decide what steps, if any, need to be taken.

What Happened

The trouble began in April 2025 when Cin Cin installed a new extractor fan at the rear of the restaurant. The first noise complaint from a neighbour arrived within a month of the fan being installed, in May 2025.

Council environmental protection officers visited neighbouring properties in response to the complaints. The case was initially closed in September 2025 due to a lack of suitable evidence. But when a seventh complaint was made in December 2025 and officers visited the complainant's property, they found conditions had changed.

A technical officer from the environmental protection team said that when they stepped inside the complainant's residence, the noise was tonal, constant and filled the room. They concluded the noise from the extractor fan met the legal threshold of a statutory nuisance, and a noise abatement notice was served on the business in January 2026.

The Neighbour's Position

Rita Congiu, the neighbour who applied for the licence review, told the council the noise had made her home difficult to live in. Neighbours described the new fan as audible for several hours at a time, at least five days a week, and said it could be heard from adjacent properties and along Holland Mews, the road behind the restaurant. They noted the previous fan had never caused any noise issues.

Three other neighbours who supported the licence review also wrote to the council. However, the restaurant also received letters of support from three separate neighbours and a nearby business.

Cin Cin's Response

Cin Cin owner David Toscano said the restaurant does not want to upset local residents and has been doing what it can to minimise the noise. He pointed out that an extractor fan is a legal health and safety requirement for any restaurant kitchen and cannot simply be switched off.

Toscano said the restaurant had been trying to seek advice from Brighton and Hove City Council for over a year about how to resolve the fan noise issue but had received no response from the council. As a result, he said, the business had been left with no option but to take the matter to court in order to get clarity.

Brighton and Hove City Council said it was inappropriate to comment while legal proceedings were active but confirmed it takes noise complaints seriously.

What the Review Could Mean

A licence review brought by a member of the public can result in a range of outcomes. The panel can decide to take no action, add conditions to the licence, suspend it for a period or revoke it entirely. Given that the dispute centres on an extractor fan rather than the operation of the bar and kitchen itself, an outright revocation would be considered a significant outcome.

Cin Cin has been one of the most consistently well-reviewed restaurants in the city since it opened. It serves handmade pasta from a short, seasonal menu and has built a loyal following in both Hove and Brighton city centre.

ImJustBrighton will report the outcome of the licensing panel's decision when it is announced.