Fields Cafe has been granted a licence to sell alcohol, following a meeting of the Lewisham Licensing Sub Committee D on Wednesday, 26 August 2026. The committee resolved to grant the licence as applied for, subject to agreed conditions, despite concerns raised by a member of the public regarding potential public nuisance and the protection of children.
The applicant, Park Cafe SE13 Ltd, represented by Joel Falconer, stated that Fields Cafe is primarily a food-led establishment, with alcohol intended to be an adjunct to the food offering. The licence was sought to allow customers to enjoy beer or wine with their meals, particularly during weekend street food pop-ups.
The specific conditions agreed upon with the licensing authority aim to address concerns about public nuisance and child protection. These include the mandatory operation of a proof of age scheme, such as Challenge 25, with acceptable forms of identification being photographic ID or PASS scheme cards, and appropriate signage displayed. A record of all refused alcohol sales, including date, time, and staff member, must be kept and available for inspection by the police or an authorised council officer. Furthermore, the licence holder must ensure sufficient measures are in place to remove and prevent litter or waste accumulating outside the premises. Patrons drinking and/or smoking outside will need to be supervised by staff to prevent public nuisance or obstruction of the public highway.
A member of the public had raised concerns that alcohol consumption would predominantly take place outdoors, potentially discouraging some minority communities from using the park, its playground, or the cafe. They also noted that 'nuisance drinking is an ongoing issue within the borough of Lewisham' and that establishing a situation where alcohol is routinely consumed in the park 'encourages behaviour that the Council would otherwise actively wish to discourage in its public parks.' The objector suggested a more gradual approach, such as further temporary event notices, to allow for wider community engagement.
Fields Cafe plans to ensure the protection of children by stating that 'Children and families are at the heart of what we do...the park is a family destination and our café reflects this.' They will operate 'Challenge 25 and ensure no unaccompanied child purchases alcohol' and will 'maintain a welcoming, child-friendly environment throughout.'
Regarding noise and litter, the cafe's plan includes undertaking 'daily litter picks in the surrounding area to collect ALL litter regardless of whether it is from our cafe or other sources.' For noise, they stated, 'We do not play amplified music outdoors' and 'Last alcohol sales will be no later than 6pm during the week and 8pm at weekends.'
The committee discussed the proposed opening hours for alcohol sales, noting a discrepancy between the application's stated hours of 12:00 to 20:00 on weekends and the cafe's general opening hours of 12:00 to 18:00. It was clarified that the application was for the potential to supply alcohol between 12:00 and 20:00 on Saturdays and Sundays, particularly during lighter months. The committee ultimately granted the premises licence application as applied for, including these hours for alcohol sales. The cafe's current limited opening hours to 18:00 were attributed to staffing levels and it being their first summer of operation.
Joel Falconer highlighted the cafe's seven years of experience operating other licensed premises in Ladywell and their successful operation under temporary event notices throughout the summer. He stated that the cafe's presence had acted as a deterrent to anti-social behaviour and that they had experienced no problems during the TENs periods. He also emphasised the cafe's commitment to being a family-friendly environment.
The full decision, including reasons, will be sent out within five working days. Any questions regarding when the licence comes into effect should be directed to the council's licensing service. The meeting agenda and reports can be found at the Lewisham Council meetings website and here.
