The Licensing Panel C of Camden Council met on Thursday 23 April 2026 to consider applications for variations to premises licences. The panel resolved to refuse an application by Wendy's to vary its premises licence and did not consider an application by KFC as it had already been resolved.

Wendy's, 189-191 Camden High Street, London NW1 7BP

The panel considered an application by Wendy's to vary its premises licence to extend its late-night refreshment hours from 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays and 00:00 on Sundays to Thursdays, to 05:00 seven days a week. The application also proposed several additional conditions.

Eleven relevant representations were received, with eight objecting to the application. Objectors included the Police, Licensing Authority, Environmental Health, two ward councillors, two residents' associations, and a resident. Three representations supported the application from residents.

The Police Responsible Authority highlighted concerns about increased crime and disorder, particularly robberies and assaults, which they stated were prevalent in the Camden Town area during the proposed extended hours. They noted that while Wendy's was a responsible operator, the extension would likely exacerbate existing issues and undermine the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder and public safety. They also pointed to previous refusals of similar applications and the ongoing challenges in managing the night-time economy in the area.

Environmental Health also objected, focusing on the prevention of public nuisance. They argued that the proposed hours were a significant departure from current operations and the Council's framework hours policy, and that extending operating hours would likely lead to increased loitering, noise, and litter, impacting residents.

Ward councillors, Councillor Patricia Callaghan and Councillor Richard Cotton, reiterated their objections, citing concerns about increased crime, disorder, and public nuisance, and the impact on residents, particularly families.

Representations from TRACT and the Camden Town Safer Neighbourhood Panel also raised concerns about public nuisance, crime, and disorder, arguing that the extended hours would encourage people to remain in the area, making policing more difficult and negatively impacting public safety and children's protection. Residents Robert and Christine Buchanan also objected on similar grounds, highlighting the area's existing issues with late-night activity and the need for residents to have a right to sleep.

However, three representations supported the application. Giovanni Sista and Anam Imtiaz, who frequent Camden's nightlife, expressed a desire for Wendy's to be open later, stating it was an improvement on existing late-night options and that the venue already had security and kept its area clean. Patrick Dela Paz, an employee of Wendy's, supported the application as it would allow for more shifts.

Expert witness statements were submitted by Sylvia Oates of Six Till Six and Darrell Butterworth, a licensing and security consultant. Ms Oates argued that the proposed operation aligned with policy objectives to support economic growth, diversification, and safety in the night-time economy, highlighting Wendy's commitments to safeguarding initiatives and its potential to contribute to a more balanced and inclusive offer. Mr Butterworth's observations suggested that Wendy's, even during extended hours under Temporary Event Notices, did not appear to cause additional crime or disorder and provided a well-lit, safe, and supervised environment. He noted that crime statistics for the area were high regardless of Wendy's operating hours and that later opening could potentially disperse crowds from unregulated venues.

Despite the expert evidence and the applicant's arguments about responsible operation and potential economic benefits, the Panel resolved to refuse the application to vary the premises licence. The Panel members felt that the proposed extension to 05:00 was a significant increase from the current 01:00 terminal hour and could undermine the efforts of the police and the Council's licensing policy, which had been developed through extensive consultation. They noted that the applicant had not adequately addressed concerns regarding noise and impact on the local area, and that a shorter extension might have been considered differently.

KFC, 53 Camden High Street, London NW1 7JH

The application by KFC to vary its premises licence was resolved prior to the meeting and was therefore not considered by the Panel.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Jonathan Simpson MBE. Councillor Shah Miah attended as a substitute for Councillor Matthew Kirk. Councillor Nina De Ayala Parker was absent. Councillor Pat Callaghan was also present.