Residents and local authorities are voicing concerns over a new premises licence application for Top's Pizza on Fulham Palace Road, citing potential increases in crime, anti-social behaviour, and public nuisance. The Hammersmith and Fulham Licensing Sub-Committee met on 28 July 2025 to discuss the application, which seeks to allow the sale of alcohol and late-night refreshment at the location.
The original premises licence for Top's Pizza lapsed due to the death of the previous licence holder. According to the public reports pack, a transfer application would have needed to be placed within 28 days of the death so that another entity could take on the licence, but this did not happen.
The application, submitted by Tops Pizza Limited, requests permission to supply alcohol for consumption on the premises from 11:00 to 23:00, Monday to Sunday, and to provide late night refreshment (indoors and outdoors) from 23:00 to 03:00, with deliveries only between 01:00 and 03:00. The proposed hours open to the public are 11:00 to 01:00, Monday to Sunday.
However, the licensing section received 10 representations objecting to the licence application, including from neighbourhood watch groups, residents associations, and Andy Slaughter MP for Hammersmith and Chiswick. Concerns raised include existing street drinking and anti-social behaviour in the area, potential disturbances to local residents late at night and early morning, and increased crime and disorder in an area already considered a hotspot by the Metropolitan Police.
One objector, the Walham Green Ward Panel Chair, stated that the application does not support the licensing objectives, notably with regard to prevention of crime and disorder, and the prevention of public nuisance.
The objector continued, Opening hours to the public until 1am will lead to increased crime and disorder in a location which is close to the Hammersmith Broadway 'crime hotspot' as designated by the Metropolitan Police. In addition staying open to 3am for deliveries will lead to delivery drivers congregating in front of the premises and nearby side streets as members of the public will not be allowed to enter the premises after 1am. Groups of people hanging around to this late time will result in more crime and anti-social behaviour, such as drug dealing and shouting etc.
According to an objector's email included in the supplementary agenda item 1 - additional objector comment public, in May 2025, in the immediate area of the premises, there were 27 crimes reported, including 7 involving violence and sexual offences, and 6 incidents of anti-social behaviour. The objector also provided data for the previous six months, including statistics for shoplifting, violence and sexual offences, and anti-social behaviour.
The applicant has volunteered a number of conditions to try and mitigate the concerns, including closing the premises to the public after 01:00, displaying a notice outlining the hours of operation, and drawing an opaque blind over the shop windows and door from 01:00 to 03:00. Following discussions with the police, the applicant also agreed that alcohol shall only be sold when ancillary to a food sold at the premises, and that strong beer, lager, cider and stout above 5.5% ABV shall not be displayed or sold. The applicant also stated that the premises will close to the public at 01:00 daily, that alcohol will not be sold or supplied in open containers. A responsible member of staff shall carry out proactive litter patrols outside the premises at least twice throughout the premises' opening hours and specifically at the end of trading hours to ensure that there is no litter associated with the premises in the immediate vicinity. Any such litter found shall be collected and returned to the premises for disposal with the premises' normal waste / refuse collection.
The Licensing Sub-Committee, comprised of Councillor Callum Nimmo (Vice-Chair), Councillor Dominic Stanton (Opposition Whip), and Councillor Paul Alexander, will consider the applications and the representations made before making a decision. The meetings are open to the public and can be viewed on the council's YouTube channel.
Appendix 4 - location map and nearby premises lists several businesses near Top's Pizza with licenses to sell alcohol, including Mr Steak, Fulham Palace Local, Cozco Latte Ltd, Nisa Local, New Bangkok, Reun Thai, Fulham Palace Wine, Kenta, Imperial Dragon, The Distillers Arms, Super Choice Newsagents, Pad Thai Story, DNA VR, Pide, and Co-op.
