Mitcham residents are voicing concerns over a new application for late-night alcohol deliveries in their neighbourhood. The Merton Council Licensing Sub-Committee met on Monday 21 July 2025, to discuss an application from Oniri Couriers Ltd, trading as NiteLyfe Xpress, for a premises licence to sell alcohol for delivery from a residential address at 9 Greenwood Road, Mitcham.
The company is seeking permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises with the following hours:
- Sunday from 7pm to 1am the following morning
- Monday to Thursday from 7pm to 2am the following morning
- Friday and Saturday from 8pm to 5am the following morning
- Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve from 8pm to 2am the following morning
The application states that sales will be online or via an ordering app. To ensure responsible alcohol sales, Oniri Couriers Ltd. stated that A robust age verification system will be in place at the point of sale on the website (e.g., age declaration checkbox and date of birth entry). All deliveries of hampers containing alcohol will require age verification upon delivery in accordance with Challenge 25 or equivalent policy.
Payments would be electronic, and all deliveries would be carried out by reputable courier services with age verification policies. The company also outlined steps to promote the four licensing objectives, including measures to prevent crime and disorder, ensure public safety, prevent public nuisance, and protect children from harm.
However, the Environmental Health Noise and Nuisance Team has raised concerns about the potential for public nuisance. George Wokorach, Noise & Nuisance Officer, stated in an email included in the Public reports pack that a noise management plan provided by Michael Oniri of Oniri Couriers Ltd, did not adequately address noise issues such as noise from cars/motorcycles stopping and starting, loud conversations, car radios, car doors slamming and internal noise by staff etc.
Mr. Wokorach added, It is my opinion that Public Nuisance would be significant that neighbours would have problems sleeping at times due to the noise.
He also raised concerns about the use of a residential dwelling for commercial purposes without planning permission, recommending that the application should not be granted.
Mr. Oniri had proposed a conduct policy for drivers, including no engine idling, keeping radio and conversations at a low volume, waiting in a designated drive zone, and respecting noise restrictions. He also outlined a supervision plan, including a supervisor on site, a ring camera, monitoring of the Nextdoor app, geofencing via the delivery app, and signage displayed on the property. Mr Oniri also offered to reduce the hours applied for. These changes were included in an email to Mr. Wokorach, included in the Public reports pack.
Despite these proposed measures, Mr. Wokorach remained unconvinced, stating, You fail to mention where drivers will wait for their orders and how they would be supervised, and who would supervise them.
The Licensing Sub-Committee, consisting of Councillors Brenda Fraser, Gill Manly, and Michael Paterson, will now consider the application and the concerns raised by the Environmental Health Noise and Nuisance Team. The agenda for the meeting outlines the procedure to be followed at the licensing hearing.
The sub-committee has the power to grant the licence with conditions, exclude licensable activities, refuse to specify a premises supervisor, or reject the application. A decision is expected within five working days.
