Chicken Valley on Edgware Road is seeking to extend its late-night refreshment hours from 1 am to 3 am, seven days a week. The application, heard by Westminster's Licensing Sub-Committee (4) on Thursday, July 23, 2026, also proposes extending overall opening hours to 3 am.
The premises is located within the Edgware Road Special Consideration Zone, an area already subject to significant concerns regarding crime and public nuisance. Historically, this zone has seen issues including anti-social behaviour, drug-related activity, robbery, noise, loitering, and littering. Residents have also reported feeling intimidated and unsafe walking past premises in the area at night.
The Metropolitan Police have objected to the application, citing potential increases in crime and disorder. They presented crime data for the W2 1EA postcode, indicating an average of 163 crimes per month between February 2025 and January 2026. The police highlighted that the Edgware Road area has experienced an increase in knife-enabled robbery and violence against a person, with peak times for robbery offenses between 16:00 and 23:00 hours. Maps presented during the hearing showed crime hotspots, with some offenses occurring outside McDonald's and other venues on Edgware Road, raising general concerns about late-night venues attracting people who then become targets of crime.
The police are referencing the council's policy regarding fast-food premises in special consideration zones, which aims to keep people in the areas where they are going out and coming out, to prevent them from being targeted. Westminster's core hours policy for establishments like fast-food venues are Monday to Thursday: 10:00 to 23:30, Friday and Saturday: 10:00 to 24:00, and Sunday: 12:00 to 22:30. The proposed hours for Chicken Valley, Sunday to Thursday until 2:30 am, fall outside these core hours.
Granting the extension could lead to potential increases in public nuisance, as the proposed hours exceed core hours. Residents have also raised concerns about increased anti-social behaviour, litter, noise, and the area becoming a destination for late-night activity, which would negatively impact their quality of life and peace.
During the hearing, the applicant's agent, Joshua Simons, presented the case. The police recommended that if the licence were granted, sales to the public should cease at 1 am, with only third-party deliveries permitted between 1 am and 3 am. Alternatively, they proposed a series of conditions, including SIA door supervisors on Friday and Saturday nights, risk assessments for SIA at other times, and enhanced staff training.
Environmental Health has also raised concerns about potential increases in public nuisance due to the proposed hours exceeding core hours. They indicated that further conditions might be proposed after a site visit.
The committee deliberated on the application, considering the policy implications for a fast-food premises within a special consideration zone and the concerns raised by the police and environmental health. Westminster's Licensing Sub-Committee considers applications based on the Licensing Act 2003, the City of Westminster Statement of Licensing Policy, and guidance from the Secretary of State. They weigh the applicant's case against representations from responsible authorities and interested parties, focusing on the four licensing objectives: prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm. For applications within Special Consideration Zones or Cumulative Impact Zones, specific policies and the potential for cumulative impact are given significant weight. The committee also considers economic benefits and alignment with local strategies like the 'Westminster After Dark' strategy. A decision was not announced at the meeting and will be made within five days. See the public reports pack for more details.
