Bexley residents can now enjoy round-the-clock alcohol delivery services after the Licensing Sub-Committee approved an application from Nocturnal Elfs Limited. The decision, made on Friday 4 July 2025, allows the company to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises and provide late-night refreshment via delivery.

Initially, responsible authorities, including the Metropolitan Police and Environmental Health, had objected to the application. The Metropolitan Police raised concerns regarding the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety, citing a lack of detail on how the organizers would manage potential antisocial behaviour. Environmental Health objected on the grounds of potential public nuisance, citing concerns about noise control.

The amended application, which led to the withdrawal of objections from responsible authorities, permits the sale of alcohol from 8:00 to 00:00 Sunday to Thursday, and from 8:00 to 02:00 on Friday and Saturday. Late night refreshment deliveries are allowed from 23:00 to 00:00 Sunday to Thursday, and 23:00 to 02:00 Friday and Saturday. The opening hours for the business are 00:00 to 23:59 every day.

Mr Ahdill Ali, Director of Nocturnal Elfs, clarified that the business will operate as a convenience store for quickly processed deliveries only, with no public access to the premises. Orders will be taken online, with payment made at the time of ordering, and deliveries made as soon as possible. He also addressed concerns about drug exchanges, stating that the convenience store would have no impact on such activity. Objectors, who lived near the premises, raised concerns about the alleyway behind the premises being a known location for drug deals and that the premises would add to that problem. They also expressed concern about noise from delivery drivers. However, the Sub-Committee found no evidence that the applicant will add to any problems associated with drugs and the Police have not maintained a concern.

Councillor Ward-Wilson asked Mr Ali to explain the concept of a dark kitchen, which Mr Ali described as a working kitchen with no shop front or public access, operating via deliveries.

The Sub-Committee granted the application with several conditions, including:

  • The premises shall not be open to the public.
  • Alcohol and late night refreshment shall be provided for delivery only.
  • Only staff members are to be employed for deliveries, using electric vehicles only.
  • No deliveries to the premises between 18:00 and 07:00.
  • Staff must not loiter outside the premises.
  • All persons involved in the supply of alcohol must be authorised in writing.
  • A fully operational CCTV system must be maintained. The CCTV system serving the premises must be maintained fully operational and in good working order at all times, make and retain clear images that include the points of collection of alcohol, and show an accurate date and time that the images were made. All CCTV images shall be retained for a period of not less than 31 days. A staff member from the premises who is conversant with the operation of the CCTV system shall be on the premises at all times when the premises are open to the public and must be able to show recordings to a Police Officer or authorised council officer immediately upon request. The original CCTV images shall be shown immediately upon demand to any police officer, community support officer or authorised person. The original CCTV images, or a copy, shall be provided to any police officer, community support officer or authorised person within 48 hours of a request having been made in a format that can be viewed on readily available equipment without the need for specialist software.
  • Stringent measures to prevent public nuisance between 23:00 and 07:00. Between 23:00 and 07:00, deliveries from the premises will be made using only electric vehicles, all articles and materials (including waste) shall be stored in bins within the building, all windows shall be kept closed, and deliveries to the premises shall be kept to a minimum. Staff will also be trained to operate a silent or whispering policy when outside the premises during these hours.
  • Comprehensive staff training on licensing terms, prevention of unlawful sales, and CCTV operation. Nocturnal Elfs will incorporate the Challenge 25 policy into their online app, requiring customers to provide identification for alcoholic beverages upon delivery. Staff will receive training on induction and every 6 months thereafter on the terms, conditions and restrictions of the Premises Licence, the prevention of unlawful sales of alcohol (including the operation of the Challenge 25 scheme, types of acceptable ID, the method of recording challenges, refusing sales of alcohol to persons who appear to be drunk, and preventing proxy sales), and the operation of the CCTV equipment.
  • No external advertising indicating alcohol storage.
  • No unaccompanied children allowed on the premises.
  • No spirits with an ABV greater than 65%.
  • Robust age verification and payment procedures.
  • Minimum order price of £10 for orders including alcohol.
  • Deliveries only to residential or business addresses, not public places. The delivery of alcohol shall be made only to a residential or business address which the customer uses in a residential or official capacity. The delivery of alcohol shall not be made or completed in a public place (street corner, park, bus stop, etc.).
  • Implementation of Challenge 25 policy with record-keeping.
  • Restricted delivery hours for alcohol and late night refreshment.

The sub-committee replaced the applicant's offered condition 31 with a revised condition restricting alcohol deliveries between 00:00 and 08:00 Sunday to Thursday, and between 02:00 and 08:00 Friday and Saturday. Late night refreshment deliveries were restricted between 00:00 and 05:00 Sunday to Thursday, and between 02:00 and 05:00 Friday and Saturday.

The Sub-Committee noted that the responsible authorities had withdrawn their objections due to the amendments and offered conditions. They acknowledged Mr Ali's clarification that the premises would operate as a convenience store for quick deliveries only, with no public access. The sub-committee also considered the objections from other persons regarding drug deals and noise but found no evidence that the applicant would contribute to drug-related problems. They were satisfied that the licensing objectives would not be undermined by granting the licence, believing that Mr Ali would operate the business considerately.