The Licensing Sub Committee B of Hackney Council met on Thursday 12 March 2026 to consider a premises licence application for Refill at 151 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3QE. The meeting's agenda also included procedural items and a standing item on Temporary Event Notices.

Premises Licence Application: Refill, 151 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3QE

The committee was scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence for Refill, located at 151 Curtain Road, London, EC2A 3QE. The applicant, Midrange Enterprises Ltd, sought authorisation for the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption between 08:00 and 23:00, Monday to Sunday, with seasonal variations. The premises are situated within the Shoreditch Special Policy Area.

Representations were received from the Metropolitan Police Service on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the prevention of public nuisance. The police expressed concerns about the cumulative impact of licensed premises in the Shoreditch Triangle area, noting it as a focal point for anti-social behaviour and a contributor to pre-loading where individuals consume alcohol purchased from off-licences before entering other licensed venues. They also raised concerns about the premises' proposed opening hours extending beyond licensable activities and noted instances of the venue serving hot food past 23:00, which is a licensable activity under the Licensing Act 2003.

A representation was also received from a local business owner on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder, public nuisance, and public safety. This objector echoed concerns about existing anti-social behaviour in the area and suggested that granting the licence would exacerbate these issues, potentially increasing the strain on local policing resources. Concerns were also raised about noise, littering, and disturbance, particularly during late hours, due to the proximity of residential properties.

The applicant, Midrange Enterprises Ltd, provided a response addressing these concerns. They stated that the primary function of the business is a convenience store, with alcohol sales intended to be a smaller proportion of their overall trade. The applicant outlined proposed conditions, including CCTV installation, an incident log, a Challenge 25 proof of age scheme, and restrictions on delivery times. They also proposed a condition for a direct telephone number for the manager to be available to residents and businesses. The applicant indicated a willingness to discuss further with the Police Licensing Unit and to potentially reduce operational hours and accept additional licensing conditions to address concerns.

The committee was also provided with extracts from Hackney's Statement of Licensing Policy, including general principles, licensing objectives, core hours, and policies relating to special policy areas and cumulative impact.

Other Agenda Items

The meeting was also scheduled to include procedural items such as the election of a Chair, apologies for absence, and declarations of interest. The minutes of the previous meeting held on 1 December 2025 were to be confirmed, and the Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing Procedure was to be noted. A standing item on Temporary Event Notices was also listed, with a note that further information would follow.