The Licensing Sub-Committee of Kingston upon Thames Council met on Tuesday 22 April 2025 and refused an application for a new premises licence for Lloyds Local Kingston. The decision was made after considering representations from the Metropolitan Police, the Council's Acting Director of Public Health, and local residents, who all raised concerns about the potential for increased anti-social behaviour and public nuisance.

Licensing Application: Lloyds Local Kingston, 12 Eden Street, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1BB

The Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application for a new premises licence for Lloyds Local Kingston, located at 12 Eden Street, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1BB. The applicant, Naresh Das, sought permission to sell alcohol for off-site consumption from Sundays to Thursdays between 09:00 and 22:00, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 09:00 to 00:00.

The application was met with objections from several parties, primarily concerning the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance.

Representations from Responsible Authorities:

• Metropolitan Police Service (MPS): The MPS formally objected to the application, arguing that granting the licence would undermine the Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in place at Eagle Brewery Wharf and exacerbate existing issues of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and street drinking in the area. They highlighted the proximity of the proposed premises to Memorial Gardens, an area already experiencing significant problems with street drinking and ASB. The MPS stated that the availability of alcohol from a new licensed premise would likely attract individuals already engaged in such behaviour, thereby aggravating the very issues the PSPO aims to mitigate. They also noted that there were no other off-licences in close proximity, suggesting the area was not suitable for such establishments.
• Acting Director of Public Health: The Director of Public Health also objected, citing concerns about the impact on the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance. They echoed the MPS's concerns regarding the proximity to the PSPO at Eagle Brewery Wharf and Memorial Gardens, where street drinking and ASB are prevalent. The representation highlighted that off-sales of alcohol in the area could encourage pre-loading and further alcohol consumption by individuals whose judgment is already impaired. The representation included statistics on the significant costs of alcohol-related crime and hospital admissions to both the NHS and society, as well as specific data for Kingston upon Thames.

Representation from Other Persons:

• A representative speaking on behalf of Queens Promenade residents and the Charter Quay Residents Association also raised objections. They detailed the ongoing issues faced by residents from March to October at Eagle Brewery Wharf (EBW), which they described as a hot spot for teenagers and young people consuming alcohol and drugs, leading to loud noise, ASB, and disturbances late into the night. They noted that congregating individuals had used private garden areas as toilets and that local alleyways were also affected. The representative stressed that significant efforts had been made by the Police, residents' associations, and the Council to reduce ASB in the EBW area and implement the PSPO, but that these efforts could be undermined by the granting of the licence.

Applicant's Response and Proposed Conditions:

The applicant's agent stated that the applicant had held a Personal Licence since 2014 and operated other successful businesses. They proposed that the premises would be an exclusive wine shop and offered further conditions to ensure responsible operation, including hiring a security guard to stand outside the premises and not selling alcohol with an alcohol by volume (ABV) above 6%. The applicant's agent also proposed amended closing times, suggesting 20:00 from Monday to Thursday and 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. However, during questioning, the applicant clarified that while exclusive wines would be sold, beer, cider, and spirits would also be available, but not with an ABV above 6%, and not in single cans to avoid catering to street drinkers.

Decision:

After considering all representations and evidence, the Licensing Sub-Committee decided to REFUSE the application for a new Premises Licence. The Sub-Committee concluded that the proposed measures by the applicant would not adequately address the underlying issues of ASB and street drinking in the area. They noted that a security guard would not prevent customers from consuming alcohol in nearby public spaces like EBW or Memorial Gardens, and that the proposed ABV limit would not address long-term drinking. The Sub-Committee also found the applicant's proposal to sell exclusive wines contradicted by their later statement about selling beer, cider, and spirits. Given the persistent problems with street drinking and ASB in the surrounding areas, the Sub-Committee felt the premises would not be suitable for the location, and the proposed conditions would not resolve the existing problems. The Sub-Committee also expressed concerns about the applicant not operating in a responsible manner.