Wetherspoon's pub Kupp is facing opposition as it applies to Westminster Council for a variation to its premises licence, seeking to begin alcohol sales at 9:00 am instead of the current 10:00 am Monday to Saturday and 12:00 pm on Sundays.

The application, submitted by Jd Wetherspoon Plc for Kupp, located at Unit 53, 5 Merchant Square, also seeks to:

  • Vary condition 21 to allow substantial food and suitable beverages to be available up to 22:30 Monday to Thursday, 23:00 Friday and Saturday and 21:30 on Sunday.
  • Vary condition 26 to allow alcohol to be consumed in external areas.
  • Remove condition 52, which states that all outside customers must be seated after 21:00.

The Licensing Sub-Committee (1) is scheduled to consider the application on 25 September 2025, alongside other licensing matters, including applications for Counter By Naroon, 11 Dacre Street, and 70 Old Compton Street, according to the committee agenda.

The application seeks to vary the start time for the sale of alcohol each day to 09:00. It also seeks to vary condition 21 to allow substantial food and suitable beverages to be available until later in the evening, and to allow alcohol to be consumed in external areas. Finally, it seeks to remove the condition that all outside customers must be seated after 21:00.

However, the application has met with resistance from local amenity societies. The Paddington Waterways and Maida Vale Society (PWMVS) and the Hyde Park Estate Association (HPEA) have both lodged objections, raising concerns about potential public nuisance and public safety.

The Paddington Waterways and Maida Vale Society (PWMVS) has raised concerns about public nuisance and public safety, noting that Kupp is proposed to be a large chain pub known for its competitive pricing of alcohol. They object to an earlier commencement time for the sale of alcohol and the proposal that substantial food would not be available in the later evening. The PWMVS, recognised by Westminster City Council, has voiced concerns that the earlier commencement time for alcohol sales will attract customers to Merchant Square when it is quiet, drawn in by the pub's competitive pricing. They also object to the proposal that substantial food would not be available in the later evening, potentially impacting customer dispersal.

The Hyde Park Estate Association (HPEA) has also objected, citing concerns about crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. The HPEA objects to an earlier opening time and states that anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance has been an ongoing concern in the area. They argue that anti-social behaviour and noise nuisance are already ongoing concerns in the area.

The meeting information does not contain any measures proposed by Kupp to mitigate concerns raised by the amenity societies regarding public nuisance and safety.

The Kupp Report included in the reports pack for the meeting notes the premises operates as a public house and has held a premises licence since 25 September 2014.

The Licensing Sub-Committee (1), comprised of Councillor Aziz Toki (Chair of Licensing), Councillor Md Shamsed Chowdhury (Deputy Cabinet Member - Streets and Lead Member - Edgware Road Champion), and Councillor Karen Scarborough, will consider the application in light of Westminster's licensing policy and guidance issued by the Secretary of State.