The Licensing Sub-Committee E of Hackney Council met on Wednesday 24 June 2026 to consider an application to vary a premises licence for Local Supermarket at 140-142 Kingsland High Street. The committee heard representations from the applicant, the police, the licensing authority, and local residents. The application sought to extend the hours for the sale of alcohol off the premises.

Variation to Premises Licence: Local Supermarket, 140-142 Kingsland High Street

The primary focus of the meeting was an application by Mr Hasan Cevik, the holder of the premises licence for Local Supermarket at 140-142 Kingsland High Street, London E8 2NS, to extend the hours for the retail sale of alcohol. Currently, alcohol can be sold until midnight from Sunday to Wednesday and until 2 am from Thursday to Saturday. The application sought to extend these hours to 1 am from Sunday to Wednesday and 2 am from Thursday to Saturday.

The applicant's agent, Robert Sutherland, presented the case, acknowledging a previous warning letter issued to Mr Cevik regarding the sale of counterfeit cigarettes, which he stated was a mistake and would not be repeated. He also highlighted measures being taken, including the intention to employ a registered SIA officer on Friday and Saturday nights and bank holiday Sundays. To address concerns about noise from an internal stairwell, Mr Sutherland stated that from 11 pm, only the internal staircase would be used, not the external one. Regarding fan noise, he expressed surprise at recent complaints, as he believed the issue had been resolved a year prior.

Representations were made by PC Lucy Wardle of the Metropolitan Police, who objected to the application on the grounds of preventing crime and disorder and protecting public safety. PC Wardle noted that the requested hours were significantly beyond the council's adopted core hours policy[^1] (LP4), which generally restricts off-sales to between 8 am and 11 pm. She expressed concern that extending alcohol availability would increase anti-social behaviour and street drinking, particularly given the premises' location in a densely populated area. PC Wardle also highlighted the recent warning letter for selling counterfeit cigarettes, stating that the police lacked confidence in the premises' ability to operate responsibly with extended hours. She suggested that the applicant should demonstrate responsible operation for a longer period, perhaps through Temporary Event Notices (TENs)[^2], before further hours could be considered.

Channing Riviere, a Principal Licensing Officer for the Licensing Authority, also raised concerns, echoing the police's points about the density of licensed premises in the area and the proximity to residential properties. Mr Riviere noted that the premises already operated beyond the core hours and was located within a Special Consideration Area[^3], and that the applicant had not demonstrated how the extended hours would not add to the cumulative impact[^4] of licensed premises in the vicinity.

Numerous objections were received from local residents, primarily citing concerns about noise, public nuisance, and anti-social behaviour. Specific issues raised included loud noise from rear doors, delivery vehicles, and persistent fan noise and vibrations. Residents also expressed concerns about increased littering, street drinking, and potential security risks if the hours were extended. One resident detailed a lengthy noise diary, documenting disturbances from fans and delivery activities occurring outside permitted hours.

During the discussion phase, Councillor Bettina Maidment asked about any personal observations of detriment to the local environment from the premises' current extended licence. Mr Riviere stated that while the area generally experienced negative impacts due to the number of licensed premises, he could not specifically attribute issues to this particular site. Councillor Fernandes inquired about CCTV and incident logbooks, which the applicant confirmed were in place.

The committee explored potential conditions and compromises. Mr Sutherland suggested a probationary period of up to six months for the extended hours, after which the licence would revert to current hours if not removed. PC Wardle maintained the police objection, reiterating that TENs would be a better way to test the extended hours. Amanda Nauth, from Legal Services, clarified that a formal probationary period was not a standard condition, and TENs would be the appropriate mechanism.

Ultimately, the committee considered a compromise of extending the hours by one hour across all days, from midnight to 1 am. Mr Sutherland indicated the applicant would accept this compromise.

The committee then deliberated and made a decision on the application. The outcome of this decision will be communicated to the applicant within five working days.