The Licensing Sub-Committee for Hammersmith and Fulham Council was scheduled to meet remotely on 26 November 2025 to discuss a new premises licence application for a Sainsbury's store. The meeting was set to address concerns raised by local residents and other parties regarding the proposed licensing hours and potential impact on the surrounding area. Councillor Mercy Umeh, Chair of Licensing Committee, Councillor Jacolyn Daly, Chair of Housing and Homelessness PAC, and Councillor Aliya Afzal-Khan, Opposition Deputy Whip, were listed as the members of the committee.

Sainsbury's - Unit 4a, Kings Road Park, Sands End Lane, London

The primary item for consideration was the application for a new premises licence for Sainsbury's located at Unit 4a, Kings Road Park, Sands End Lane, London, SW6 2BN. The applicant, Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd, sought permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises between the hours of 07:00 and 23:00, Monday to Sunday, with proposed opening hours of 00:00 to 00:00, according to the agenda of the Public reports pack 26th-Nov-2025.

The Public reports pack 26th-Nov-2025 included details of the application, background information, consultation responses, and relevant policy considerations. The applicant's operating schedule outlined several proposed licensing conditions, including the implementation of a CCTV system, maintenance of adequate staffing and security levels, display of signage requesting customers to leave quietly, and an age verification policy.

According to the Public reports pack 26th-Nov-2025, the location of the premises is within a mixed-use area, with both commercial and residential properties nearby. The Appendix 2 - Location Map and Nearby Premises document included a map showing the location of the premises and neighbouring licensed establishments. It also noted the proximity to transport links such as buses, taxis, and underground stations.

The Licensing Section reportedly received three representations, as detailed in Appendix 3 - Representations Public: two from individual residents and one from a representative of the Barclay Road Residents Association. Concerns raised in these representations included the potential for crime and disorder, public nuisance, and the impact on vulnerable residents, particularly those residing in the nearby Valour House, which provides housing for veterans.

Additional information from an objector, included in the Supplementary Agenda - Additional Information from Objector, highlighted the proximity of the proposed Sainsbury's to Valour House, a building with 128 apartments for war veterans managed by the Oswold Stoll Foundation. The objector expressed concerns about the potential negative impact of early morning and late-night alcohol sales on these vulnerable residents. They also referenced the council's Statement of Licensing Policy, which suggests closing times of 22:00 for off-licences and alcohol sales in supermarkets in residential areas.

The Supplementary Agenda C 26th-Nov-2025 included additional comments from residents who were unable to attend the hearing, but wished to appoint a neighbour to represent them. These residents also voiced concerns about the proposed early morning and late-night alcohol sales, and the potential impact on veterans residing in Valour House.

The Supplementary Agenda A 26th-Nov-2025 contained correspondence outlining agreed police conditions to be included in the premises licence. These conditions included that any alcohol sold for consumption off the premises should be sold in a sealed container. It also stated that on days when Chelsea Football Club Men's First Team are playing home matches at Stamford Bridge, the licensee should ensure that no sales of alcohol in glass containers are undertaken during the period 2 hours before kick-off or start of event and 1 hour after, avoid stacking alcohol stock close to the entrance and exit doors and employ staff and security to monitor control customers, entrance and exits, and Security Industry Authority (SIA) staff should be employed to assist staff and keep order on match/event days.

An update to these conditions was circulated in the Applicant Conditions Update 24 November 2025 document, replacing the previously circulated football conditions with an agreement that:

The licence holder will risk assess the need for additional measures (including security guard presence) to be taken on days when Chelsea Football Club Men's First Team are playing home matches at Stamford Bridge.

The sub-committee was to consider the application in light of the four licensing objectives outlined in the Licensing Act 2003¹: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.