Walthamstow residents will have limited late-night access to Popeyes, as the Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee has granted a premises licence with restrictions on delivery hours. The decision, made on Tuesday 05 August 2025, follows concerns raised by local residents and the council's Anti-Social Behaviour team regarding potential public nuisance and crime, including disturbances from delivery drivers congregating near the premises, noise from patrons and delivery vehicles, and littering. Residents also expressed concerns about delivery drivers using Cleveland Park Avenue as a shortcut and the potential danger to pedestrians and cyclists due to reckless driving.

The application by PLK Chicken UK Limited for Popeyes, located at 259 High Street, sought permission for late-night refreshment from 23:00 to 04:00 daily. However, the Sub-Committee amended the hours to address the concerns raised.

Under the new licence, Popeyes is permitted to offer late-night refreshment (deliveries only) from 23:00 to 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The premises' opening hours are 07:00 to 23:00 Sunday to Thursday, and 07:00 to 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant must close to the public from 23:00 each night.

In addition to the amended hours, the Sub-Committee agreed to additional conditions aimed at managing delivery drivers and preventing nuisance. These conditions include:

  • Staff performing regular checks at the boundary of the premises to ensure drivers are not disturbing neighbours.
  • Requiring drivers without an order to wait inside the premises or leave the residential area.
  • Using an Order Ready button to prevent drivers from congregating.
  • Promoting the use of sustainable transport by delivery drivers.
  • Ensuring drivers dismount before stepping onto the pavement.

These conditions differ from PLK Chicken UK Limited's original proposed conditions in their operating schedule (Appendix C), which included measures to address concerns associated with restaurants and takeaways, such as noise, litter, cooking smells, and people congregating. Their initial proposals also included measures such as installing CCTV, keeping an incident book, prohibiting entry to people carrying alcohol, ensuring public areas are 'glass free', displaying notices requesting quiet departure, delivering only to residential or business addresses, and employing WAVE Training, Ask Angela, and Child Safeguarding Policies.

The decision notice stated that:

Delivery drivers must be managed by staff to ensure that they do not cause a nuisance. Restaurant based members of staff shall perform regular checks at the boundary of the premises to ensure drivers are not disturbing the neighbours or causing a nuisance on the public highways.

The agenda for the Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee meeting outlined the procedure followed during the hearing, including presentations from the licensing officer and applicant, and opportunities for questions from committee members and other parties. The reports pack provided background information on the application, including the premises plan (Appendix B) and operating schedule (Appendix C).

Parties have the right to appeal the decision to Thames Magistrates Court within twenty-one days of notification.