Decision

1. Pranavarooban Kalainathan (“the Applicant”) applied for a variation of Premises Licence on the 1st May 2026 for Johns Newsagent, 158 Lewisham Way, London SE14 6PD (“the Premises”).
2. The application was made and advertised by owner of the business in accordance with Regulation 25 of the Licensing Act 2003 (Premises licences and club premises certificates) Regulations 2005. The last date for representations was 29th May 2026.
3. The particulars proposed for the premises licence were:
   Particulars of Application
   The application is for a variation of the Premises for the following activities:
   Sale of alcohol by retail for consumption OFF the premises
   00.00 – 00.00 Monday to Sunday
   Concession
   [08.00 – 02.00 Monday to Sunday]
   Currently
   08.00 – 23.00 Monday to Sunday
4. Representations were received from five (5) members of the public, who were objecting to the application on the grounds that it did not promote the Licensing Objectives of public nuisance, the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety. The representations were received within the specified time, were examined by Officers and were not considered to be vexatious or frivolous
5. Representations were received from both the Licensing Authority and the Metropolitan Police Service. However, following agreement with the Applicant to:
   a) reduce the licensed hours to end at 02.00, Monday to Sunday, and
   b) include conditions proposed by the Authority and the Police listed in Annex_2 on page 75 of the Agenda and contained in the Supplementary Agenda, Item 7, pages 1 to 2.
   both authorities withdrew their objections. No representations were received from any other Responsible Authority.
6. The Licensing Sub-Committee B held a meeting on the 18th June 2026 to consider the Application. Safer Communities, Licensing Officer, Kennedy Obazee, introduced the report. The applicant, Mr Pranavarooban Kalainathan then addressed the Sub-Committee in support of the premises licence application. He was allowed a fixed period of time and answered Members’ questions. One local resident who had submitted written representations appeared at the meeting to speak to the Sub-Committee. He was allowed the same fixed period of time, and he also answered Members’ questions. At the end, the Applicant was given an opportunity to briefly sum up his case as was the objector.
7. In making its decision the Sub-Committee has considered all the papers contained in the report pack and submitted documents, including written submissions, together with the oral submissions of the Applicant and the objector. The Sub-Committee also considered the Council’s own Statement of Licensing Policy 2026-31 and the latest Home Office Statutory Guidance, revised in February 2026.
8. The decision of the Sub-Committee is to grant the variation of the premises licence as applied for and then modified, that is:
    

•         Sale of alcohol by retail for consumption OFF the premises, between the hours of 08.00 to 02.00 Monday to Sunday.
 

And in accordance with the conditions agreed with the Licensing Authority and Metropolitan Police on Police listed in Annex 2 on page 75 of the Agenda and contained in the Supplementary Agenda, Item 7, pages 1 to 2.

1. The Sub-Committee’s reasons for taking this decision are:

a.The business is in an area with a recognised ASB problem but there were other premises in the vicinity where alcohol could be purchased, including 24 hours a day, and there was no evidence that granting a licence for sales at the agreed hours would materially contribute to ASB and disorder.

b.The additional conditions offered as part of the application are necessary, appropriate and proportionate in this case to promote the licensing objectives,

including the prevention of crime and disorder, and address concerns over vulnerable drinkers.

c.The Sub-Committee noted that on the Premises becoming operational, if the licence conditions were not complied with it was open for any person to instigate the licence review process.

1. There is a right of appeal against this decision. Any appeal should be made to the Magistrates’ court within 21 days beginning with the day on which the Applicant was notified of the decision.
    

Any person who has given notice of appeal on a licensing decision to the Magistrates Court, or is considering doing so, should not approach council officers for legal advice. A person making an appeal should seek independent legal advice, for instance, from a firm of solicitors or the local Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to assist.