The Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee of Waltham Forest Council met on Thursday 12 March 2026 to consider an application for a premises licence for Local Corner Supermarket, 96 Fulbourne Road, Walthamstow, E17 4EG. The committee decided to grant the application in part, with revised hours for the sale of alcohol and additional conditions imposed.

Grant of a Premises Licence: Local Corner Supermarket, 96 Fulbourne Road, Walthamstow, E17 4EG

The Sub-Committee considered an application by Mr Guney Simsek for a premises licence for Local Corner Supermarket. The application sought permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between 08:00 and 23:00, Monday to Sunday, and for the premises to be open to the public between 07:00 and 23:00, Monday to Sunday.

During the consultation period, fourteen representations were received from local residents, raising concerns related to the prevention of public nuisance, public safety, the protection of children from harm, and the prevention of crime and disorder. Two representations were also received from responsible authorities: the Metropolitan Police and the Licensing Service.

The applicant, Mr Guney Simsek, and his agent, Ms Zilan Simsek, presented their case. They stated that Mr Simsek had no connection to the previous licence holder, who had been involved in serious criminal incidents at the premises, and that he intended to run a responsible business. They confirmed that Mr Simsek had accepted all conditions proposed by the police and the Licensing Authority, which were detailed in Appendix E of the public reports pack¹. These conditions included measures such as CCTV, an incident book, a refusal book, and the implementation of a Challenge 25 scheme to prevent underage sales. Mr Simsek also agreed to further conditions proposed by the Sub-Committee, including a restriction on loitering outside the store and a requirement for spirits and high-strength beers and ciders to be sold from behind the counter.

Representations were also heard from several local residents, including Ms Caroline Drucker, Ms Carol Williams, Mr James Connelly, Mr John Corish, Mr Saqib Ilyas, and Mr Rory Woodbridge. These residents expressed significant concerns about the history of the premises, including previous criminal activity and sexual assaults linked to the former licence holder. They highlighted worries about potential increases in crime and disorder, public nuisance, and the risk to children, particularly given the proximity of schools and the saturation of off-licences in the area. Some residents also raised concerns about the applicant's potential connection to the previous licence holder, despite Mr Simsek's assurances to the contrary.

After considering all representations and evidence, the Sub-Committee decided to GRANT the application IN PART. The approved hours for the supply of alcohol consumed off the premises were revised to Monday to Sunday, 10:00 to 22:00. The hours the premises is open to the public remain Monday to Sunday, 07:00 to 23:00.

In addition to the conditions agreed with the police and licensing authority, the Sub-Committee imposed further conditions:

• A sign must be displayed to indicate that loitering outside the store is not permitted.
• The applicant must conduct frequent checks during busy periods to ensure no patrons are loitering in front of the store.
• All spirits and high-strength beers and ciders (of 6.5% ABV and above) must not be openly available and must be sold from behind the counter.

The Sub-Committee's reasoning for this decision included noting the applicant's assurances regarding his lack of connection to the previous licence holder and his commitment to operating responsibly. They also acknowledged the serious concerns raised by local residents regarding past incidents and the potential for increased crime, disorder, and nuisance. The decision to reduce the alcohol sales hours was made to minimise potential nuisance and anti-social behaviour, particularly given the early morning incident of intoxication reported by a resident. The Sub-Committee was satisfied that granting the licence in part, with the imposed conditions, would uphold the licensing objectives and address the concerns raised by residents.