St. Mary's Church in Walthamstow has been granted a licence to sell alcohol, but with a key restriction: the sale and consumption of alcohol in external areas must cease by 9:00 PM. The decision, made by the Waltham Forest Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee on Friday, 11 September 2026, aims to balance the church's desire to host community events with the need to prevent public nuisance and crime.
The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Walthamstow applied for permission to sell alcohol for consumption on and off the premises, and to exhibit films, between 12:00 PM and 10:30 PM, Monday to Sunday. The premises would be open to the public from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
The church plans to sell alcohol to accompany afternoon and evening events, as well as private and corporate functions. These events are often community-focused, including fairs, drama productions, and concerts. The licence will also enable alcohol sales at wedding parties and other private events. The extended hours for alcohol sales, starting from 12:00 PM, are intended to facilitate low-key daytime community events like markets and fetes, where alcohol can be sold for both on-site consumption and as an off-sale.
Concerns were raised during the consultation period by other persons
and the licensing team, focusing on the licensing objectives of preventing public nuisance, preventing crime and disorder, and protecting children from harm. Specifically, other persons
from Monoux Almshouses, who are direct neighbours, expressed concerns that a 7-day alcohol sales request would definitely reduce our privacy, peace of mind
due to potential noise and litter penetrating their homes. They suggested limiting alcohol sales to weekends. The licensing team echoed these concerns, highlighting potential issues related to crime and disorder, public nuisance, and child protection.
In response to these concerns, the Sub-Committee imposed the additional condition that the sale and consumption of alcohol stops within the external areas of the premises at 21:00.
This measure, along with recommendations regarding smoking areas, aims to mitigate the potential impact on immediate neighbours. The Sub-Committee considered these conditions appropriate for promoting the licensing objectives, taking into account the representations received and the applicant's proposed operating schedule.
The premises licence is sought to provide greater flexibility for organising events and making alcohol available for sale to accompany them, thereby raising funds needed to sustain the church's outreach and community programmes. This licence will allow the church to undertake licensable activities more frequently than the Temporary Event Notice (TEN) regime permits, without the need for repeated TEN applications.
Parties with the right to appeal have twenty-one days to do so at Thames Magistrates Court. Further details regarding the application and the committee's decision can be found in the Public reports pack and the Decisions document.