A Tesco Express store has been granted a licence to sell alcohol after a local resident's concerns about the concentration of licensed premises and potential for increased anti-social behaviour were addressed through amended hours and conditions.
Licensing Panel E of Camden Council met on Thursday, 29 October 2026, to consider the application for a new premises licence for Tesco Express at Unit 1, 63-69 New Oxford Street. The store had initially applied to sell alcohol from 6:00 to 00:00 daily, with late-night refreshments from 23:00 to 00:00 and opening hours from 6:00 to 00:00.
Representations were received from the Licensing Authority, Public Health, the Covent Garden Community Association, and a local resident, Amarjit Rakhra. Following negotiations, representations from the Licensing Authority, Public Health, and the Covent Garden Community Association were withdrawn after agreed conditions and a reduction in licensing hours were proposed.
Mr Rakhra's representation remained, raising significant concerns. He highlighted that the premises are located within a parade of shops where the two immediately adjacent shops already hold off-licences, creating a high concentration of alcohol sales in a small area. This, he argued, had the potential to increase noise, customers congregating outside, litter, disturbance, and other alcohol-related nuisance. Furthermore, he noted the proximity to late-night entertainment venues such as Flight Club (licensed until 2am) and HERE at Outernet (capacity of approximately 1,850 people with late-night licensing), stating that granting another off-sales licence would further increase the availability of takeaway alcohol in this location.
Crucially, Mr Rakhra pointed out that there are 18 affordable residential homes situated directly above the proposed Tesco premises.
He expressed concern about potential disturbances such as noise from customers gathering outside, increased street drinking and associated anti-social behaviour, noise associated with deliveries, refuse collection and bottle disposal, and additional disturbance from individuals leaving nearby entertainment venues and purchasing takeaway alcohol.
His concerns were further amplified by referencing Camden Council's 2016 research report, which identified issues with street drinking and alcohol-related litter around New Oxford Street and Bloomsbury Way, and the more recent 2026 borough-wide Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) to tackle alcohol-related anti-social behaviour. Mr Rakhra also voiced apprehension about Tesco's practice of offering alcohol at heavily discounted Clubcard prices,
suggesting that inexpensive takeaway alcohol, combined with nearby late-night entertainment, could encourage further street drinking and public nuisance. He requested the Panel consider the cumulative impact of these factors, including previous licensing restrictions on a nearby Tesco, to assess the potential for increased public nuisance, crime and disorder, and disturbance to local residents.
Jeremy Bark detailed Tesco's policies and training regarding age verification, responsible retailing, and CCTV. Tesco committed to reviewing how Women's Safety principles could be integrated into its policies and implemented across its Camden stores.
After deliberation, the Panel granted the licence with amended hours for the supply of alcohol from Monday to Sunday, 08:00 to 23:00. The store's opening hours will be 06:00 to 00:00 daily, and late-night refreshments will be permitted from 23:00 to 00:00. The rationale for the specific 23:00 cut-off for alcohol sales was a result of negotiations and agreements between the applicant and the responsible authorities who had withdrawn their representations.
These include requirements for management presence, with a member of the management team shall be present at the premises at all times when the premises are open to the public and shall have responsibility for the management of the premises and for dealing with any licensing-related issues that arise.
Age verification training is mandatory, and all staff involved in alcohol sales must be trained on the law and the premises' Challenge 25 policy before making sales. Records of this training are to be maintained and available for inspection.
The premises will operate a refusal system, with till prompts reminding staff to Think 25
when alcohol is scanned. Staff will be trained to refuse sales if a customer cannot provide approved ID. A Challenge 25 policy will be in place, requiring anyone appearing under 25 to prove their age with acceptable photographic identification, such as a passport, photo-card driving licence, or a PASS-hologram-bearing proof of age card. CCTV coverage will be maintained, and a system for refusing alcohol sales will be implemented.
Furthermore, restrictions will be placed on the sale of high-strength lagers and ciders, with no lagers or ciders, in cans or plastic bottles over 6.5% ABV to be sold from the premises with the exception of premium or craft products.
Alcohol will also be covered and locked behind secure shutters or in locked fridges when the premises are open outside of alcohol sales hours.