A West Norwood convenience store has been granted a new alcohol licence, allowing it to sell alcohol until 1 am seven days a week. AA Plus London, located at 98-100 Knights Hill, will also be permitted to open to the public during these hours.
The decision was made by Lambeth Council's Licensing Sub-Committee on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, following a hearing to consider the application. The committee granted the licence with most of the proposed conditions from the Licensing Authority attached, but excluded one condition that would have required the sale of cans or bottles of ale, beer, lager, or cider in multiples of four.
The applicant's agent, Mr. Naga Rajesh, explained that the premises, previously two separate licensed venues, had undergone significant investment and reconstruction. The premises were in very bad shape
and very tiny
before being merged into a single unit through a few hundred thousands to renovate this property.
The result is a decent size premises giving a good look to the environment and it's good for the public as well.
He argued that the extended hours were crucial for the business's survival.
The Licensing Authority had initially objected to the proposed hours, stating that the 1 am terminal hour fell outside the council's licensing policy for residential areas, which recommends 11 pm. This recommendation is in place to prevent public nuisance from late-night activities, such as noise, vehicle movement, congestion, and littering, and to ensure public safety.
Concerns were also raised by the Licensing Authority regarding specific conditions related to the sale of high-strength alcohol, multi-packs, and miniature spirits. Specifically, they objected to condition 14 (no beers, ales, lagers or ciders of 6% ABV or above) and condition 18 (no sales of miniature bottles of spirits of 50ml or less). While condition 15, which mandated the minimum sale of four cans/bottles, was excluded from the licence, conditions 14 and 18 were insisted upon and attached.
Councillor Emma Nye, the ward councillor, sought clarification on how nuisance and disorder would be prevented. The applicant stated that most customers are local residents and that they expect people coming home late from work. They believe they can manage any potential issues by maintaining their existing customer base, as they have done so in the past without problems. The applicant also added that they would reduce hours or close early if any concerns arose.
The London Fire Brigade had initially raised concerns about the submitted plans, specifically regarding the adequacy of fire detection coverage and the provision of water-based extinguishers. However, these issues were resolved, leading to the withdrawal of their representation.
Ultimately, the committee decided to grant the licence with modified hours and conditions. The applicant agreed to accept all 22 proposed conditions for the extended hours beyond 11 pm, with the exception of the 'multiples of four' rule (condition 15). The committee found that these terms would promote all of the licensing objectives. The applicant will receive written notification of the decision within five working days.
Further details on the proposed conditions can be found in the Public reports pack, specifically in Annex B. The application details are available in Annex A, and representations are in Annex C. The location and map are provided in Annex D.
