The Licensing Sub-Committee of Kingston upon Thames Council met on Tuesday 29 September 2026 to consider an application for a new premises licence for Popeyes, located at 65-67 Clarence Street, Kingston-upon-Thames. The committee considered representations from the Metropolitan Police, the Council's Environmental Health Officer, and local residents regarding the application.

Popeyes Premises Licence Application

The subcommittee considered an application for a new premises licence for Popeyes, a fast-food restaurant at 65-67 Clarence Street, Kingston-upon-Thames, KT1 1RB. The applicant, PLK Chicken UK Limited, sought authorisation for late-night refreshments from 11pm to 5am daily, with the premises closing to the public at 1am (Sunday-Wednesday) and 2am (Thursday-Saturday), and operating a delivery service only thereafter.

Decision: The decision on the application, including any modified hours and conditions, will be confirmed to all parties by email later today, with full details and reasons to follow within five working days.

Arguments for the application: The applicant's agent, Mark Browning of Marshall Pembroke, argued that Popeyes had implemented measures to mitigate potential issues, such as an order ready button to prevent delivery riders from congregating outside and a permanent door host. They highlighted successful operations in other towns and cities and expressed willingness to negotiate sensible compromises. Laura Evans-Raburski, Operations Manager for Popeyes South East, emphasised the company's commitment to being a good neighbour and engaging with residents.

Arguments against the application: The Metropolitan Police objected on the grounds that the proposed hours would undermine the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder, public nuisance, and public safety. Sergeant Jeremy Weston of the Metropolitan Police stated that Kingston Town Centre already experiences significant issues related to the night-time economy, and an additional late-night venue would exacerbate these problems by increasing footfall and prolonging dispersal. He argued that the proposed conditions were standard and insufficient to address the cumulative impact.

John Sibson, Lead Officer for Pollution Control for Kingston and Sutton Shared Environment Service, also raised concerns about public nuisance, specifically noise disturbance from delivery drivers and customers. He noted that Clarence Street is pedestrianised, meaning delivery drivers would have to park further away and potentially ride unlawfully down the street. He recommended reduced hours for late-night refreshment and the premises' opening hours.

Saffron Green, a local resident, objected to the late-night opening hours, citing concerns about noise from delivery drivers, litter, and potential anti-social behaviour in the private areas behind the premises. She highlighted that the area is residential and that the proposed hours would significantly impact residents' sleep. Councillor James Giles also submitted an objection, primarily on the grounds of public nuisance and crime and disorder, expressing concern about the impact on residents living above commercial premises and the potential for noise and disturbance from delivery operations extending until 5am.

Conditions discussed/proposed: During the hearing, several conditions were discussed and proposed by the applicant and objectors, including:

• Limiting late-night refreshment hours.
• Permitting delivery services until a specific time.
• Displaying clear notices requesting customers to leave quietly and for delivery drivers not to loiter.
• Staff managing delivery drivers to prevent nuisance.
• Keeping the front of the premises clean.
• Ensuring patrons do not congregate outside the restaurant.
• Employing WAVE Training, Ask Angela, and Child Safeguarding Policies.
• Maintaining a CCTV system with recordings retained for 31 days, available to responsible authorities upon request.
• Keeping an incident/accident book retained for at least 12 months.
• Ensuring all areas accessible to the public are 'glass free'.
• Deliveries to be made to residential or business addresses only, not open public spaces.
• No music to be played externally after 9pm.
• Entrance doors to be kept closed after 9pm, except for entry and egress.
• No deliveries or waste collections between 11pm and 7am, except for customer orders.

The subcommittee noted that the applicant had agreed to reduce their requested hours and to move delivery operations from the rear to the front of the premises. They also acknowledged the applicant's offer to liaise with the police regarding SIA door staff if deemed necessary and the provision of a direct contact number for residents to report disturbances.