Lambeth Council Grants Quick Stop Extended Alcohol Sales Hours Despite Objections, Subject to Conditions

Lambeth Council Faces Objections Over Quick Stop's Alcohol Hour Extension

Lambeth Council's Licensing Sub-Committee convened on Thursday, 17 July 2025, to deliberate on an application from Quick Stop, a convenience store on Acre Lane, seeking to extend its alcohol sales hours until 3:00 am. The proposal has sparked concerns from local authorities and public health officials, setting the stage for a contentious decision.

Quick Stop, located at 14 Acre Lane, is seeking to extend its hours for the sale of alcohol to 11:00 to 03:00, Monday to Sunday. The application, submitted by Mr. Jan Matteen, has met with resistance from the Licensing Authority and Public Health, who cite potential risks to the licensing objectives.

The Licensing Authority voiced concerns that the extended hours contravene the council's licensing policy, potentially leading to increased crime and disorder, compromising public safety, and exacerbating public nuisance. Public Health officials highlighted the store's proximity to substance misuse services and areas frequented by rough sleepers and street drinkers, raising fears of alcohol-related issues. The Lambeth Public Health response to application_further evidence 150625.pdf document provides further context for these concerns.

Ola Owejuri, representing the Licensing Authority, argued that the existing midnight closure for alcohol sales is manageable, suggesting measures like locking away drinks after hours. He also noted that the proposed staffing compromise was not an improvement, as the current license requires two staff members until midnight, while the extension would reduce this measure despite longer hours.

Public Health representative Mr. Matthew Andrews said that the area is a gathering place for rough sleepers after midnight, and that the later hours of the evening create a higher risk level due to the presence of vulnerable populations. He cited a statement from Riverside, a supported housing scheme, which stated that the extended hours are likely to lead to increased access to alcohol by vulnerable adults with mental health needs and addictions, potentially increasing anti-social behaviours.

Mr. Gary Grant, representing Quick Stop, argued that the extension is crucial for the store's economic viability, particularly in serving shift workers and emergency personnel who seek to purchase groceries and alcohol after midnight. He presented a petition with 38 signatures from local residents and workers supporting the extended hours.

Mr. Grant also highlighted the absence of objections from the police and environmental health, the professional guardians of crime and disorder and public nuisance objectives, respectively. He also noted that the store had operated under temporary licenses until 3am for over 18 nights without any reported issues.

To address concerns, Mr. Grant offered several concessions, including a blanket ban on the sale of miniature bottles of spirits and a commitment to employ at least two staff members from 11 pm until closing. He also proposed replacing a condition regarding super-strength beers with a more robust condition prohibiting the sale of beers, ales, lagers, or ciders of 6% ABV or above.

Councillor Bray questioned how the applicant would prevent the store from serving the after-party crowd from nearby music venues. Mr. Matteen responded that the store's policy is not to serve drunk people and that they would replicate practices from his other store, including having a staff member by the door to control entry after 1 am.

After deliberation, the Licensing Sub-Committee decided to grant the application, subject to the agreed-upon conditions and several additional measures. These include a requirement for welfare and vulnerable people training for staff, immediate notification of CCTV breakdowns to the police, and measures to prevent littering outside the premises.

The Licensing Sub-Committee specified that proposed condition 14 should be revised to mandate that all staff members engaged or to be engaged in selling alcohol on the premise premises shall receive full training pertinent to the license act licensing act wave or similar specifically regarding age restricted sales and the refusal of sales to persons believed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs this shall take place every 12 months . The meeting information did not specify how the effectiveness of this training would be monitored.

The decision aims to balance the economic needs of the business with the concerns of the community and the licensing objectives. The decision will be formally communicated to all interested parties within five working days.