The Licensing Sub-Committee of Kingston upon Thames Council met on Monday 8 June 2026 to consider an application for a new premises licence for Lloyds Local, located at 161 Clarence Street, Kingston-upon-Thames, KT1 1QT. The committee considered the application, which sought to allow the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption, subject to conditions.

Application for a New Premises Licence for Lloyds Local

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application for a new premises licence for Lloyds Local, a convenience store at 161 Clarence Street, Kingston-upon-Thames, KT1 1QT. The applicant, Lloyds Kingston Limited, initially sought to sell alcohol off-premises between 7 am and 11 pm daily. Following consultation with the Metropolitan Police, the proposed hours for alcohol sales were amended to 9 am to 11 pm, with the premises opening from 7 am to 11 pm daily.

The Metropolitan Police had initially raised concerns regarding the prevention of crime and disorder, specifically relating to street drinkers in the area. However, these concerns were satisfied after the applicant agreed to several conditions. These conditions included restrictions on the sale of single bottles or cans of alcohol, a prohibition on selling beer, lager, and cider above 6.0% Alcohol By Volume (ABV), and a requirement for staff to refuse sales to individuals believed to be street drinkers or alcohol-dependent. With these amendments, the Metropolitan Police withdrew their representation.

A representation was also received from another person, raising concerns related to all four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. This objector, a solicitor, expressed concerns about the applicant being a new company with no trading history and questioned the feasibility of implementing proposed measures such as CCTV and staff training. They also raised points about the potential for increased anti-social behaviour, litter, and cumulative impact on the area, comparing the application unfavourably to conditions imposed on other premises.

During the hearing, Mr. Norris Das, the applicant, and Oisin Daly, his representative from Absolute Licence Solutions Limited, presented their case. Mr. Das highlighted his experience as an operator with two other well-managed shops and a good compliance record, including passing test purchases. Mr. Daly emphasised that the agreed conditions with the police were robust and that the applicant was committed to responsible operation. They argued that the objector's concerns were speculative and not supported by evidence, noting that only one representation was received from 308 consulted addresses.

Councillor Andrew Sillett, Chair of the Licensing Sub-Committee, and Councillor Peter Higgins questioned the applicant about the reliance on late-evening trade and the potential impact on the town centre. Mr. Das explained that while late-evening sales were important, they represented approximately 30% of his business, and reducing these hours could lead to a loss of trade. He also confirmed that the premises would have two staff members on duty during later hours for security and supervision.

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered the Secretary of State's Guidance issued under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003¹ and the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy². They noted that the proposed hours were within the guideline hours set out in the Council's policy for off-sales premises. The committee acknowledged the concerns raised by the objector regarding existing issues in the town centre, such as street drinking and litter. However, they were persuaded by the applicant's experience, the agreed conditions with the Metropolitan Police, and the commitment to implement further measures, including litter picking twice daily and the provision of a vape bin.

The committee's decision on the application was to be confirmed by email and followed by a full decision notice with reasons within five working days. The conditions agreed with the Metropolitan Police, which were to be considered for inclusion if the application was granted, included:

• Alcohol sales restrictions: No single cans or bottles, no beer, lager, or cider above 6.0% ABV, and no spirits in containers of 200ml or less.
• CCTV: Continuous recording, retained for at least 31 days, with immediate access for police and authorised officers.
• Staff training: Regular training on the Licensing Act 2003, including identifying alcohol dependency and vulnerability, with refresher training every six months.
• Refusals log: A record of all alcohol sales refused, including customer description and staff member's name.
• Public nuisance prevention: Notices advising customers to leave quietly and respect neighbours.
• Challenge 25 policy: Strict age verification for alcohol sales, with acceptable forms of identification specified.

Additional conditions considered included the provision of a vape bin and a commitment to sweep and wash the area immediately outside the premises twice daily. The decision was to be made with the understanding that any breach of these conditions could lead to a review of the premises licence.