Residents in Beckton have voiced their objections to a new store's application for a premises licence, specifically targeting the proposed 6 AM start time for alcohol sales.
The Newham Licensing (2003 Act) Sub-Committee, including Councillor Jane Barbara Lofthouse, Councillor Pushpa Dipaklal Makwana and Councillor Winston Vaughan, convened on Wednesday 13 August 2025, to discuss the application for a new premises licence for Jay Retail Ltd, located at 4-8 Atlantis Avenue, London E16 2BF. The agenda for the meeting included the new premises licence application as the primary item for consideration. The members of the sub-committee were tasked with hearing the application and determining whether to grant the licence, potentially with added conditions to address the concerns raised.
The application seeks permission to supply alcohol (off-licence) from 06:00 to 00:00, Monday to Sunday, and to provide late-night refreshment (indoors) from 23:00 to 00:00, also Monday to Sunday.
Jay Retail Ltd included steps they intend to take to promote the four licensing objectives in their application. These steps include CCTV, a Challenge 25
policy, staff competence and training, a refusals book, an incident book, and delivery protocols.
Several representations were made against the application, raising concerns about potential increases in crime, disorder, public nuisance, and risks to public safety and the protection of children. The Public Reports Pack details these representations.
The Council Licensing Enforcement Team, acting as a responsible authority, submitted a letter of representation (Appendix B in the report pack) citing concerns over crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance, and public safety. The team's letter expressed worry about the lack of detail in the application regarding alcohol control measures, specifically the sale of single cans/bottles, the strength of alcohol, and the sale of smaller spirit bottles. The team also raised concerns about the proposed 6 am start time for alcohol sales, fearing it could attract street drinkers and increase anti-social behaviour. To mitigate these concerns, the Council Licensing Enforcement Team recommended that Jay Retail Ltd submit a set of more robust conditions following the Councils Licensing Policy 2025 – 2030 with the appendix of model conditions.
The Council Commercial Environmental Team also submitted a letter of representation, Appendix C, focusing on the prevention of public nuisance. The team voiced concerns that the applicant had not proposed any measures to prevent public nuisance, and that the applicant hadn't provided information on the types and strengths of alcohol to be sold, and that high strength alcohol sales or sales of single cans or miniatures could make the premises attractive to street drinkers and lead to an increase in street drinking, littering, public urination and other antisocial behaviour.
Residents also voiced their concerns. One resident, in a letter of representation (Appendix D), objected to the application based on the protection of children from harm and public safety, arguing that the proposed licensing hours were excessive and highly inappropriate for a mixed-use residential area such as Royal Albert Wharf.
Another resident (Appendix E) raised concerns about crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance, noting increased shoplifting and anti-social behaviour at a nearby store.
