The Licensing Sub-Committee of Barking and Dagenham Council met on Wednesday, 29 April 2026, to consider an application to vary the premises licence for Alsa Express. The committee decided to approve the application with revised hours and conditions, rather than granting the full request for 24-hour alcohol sales.

Variation to Premises Licence for Alsa Express

The primary focus of the meeting was an application by Sahin Tasyurdu to vary the premises licence for Alsa Express, located at 442 to 444 Lodge Avenue, Dagenham, RM9 4QS. The original application sought to extend the sale of alcohol to 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Metropolitan Police submitted a representation against the application, citing concerns related to the licensing objectives: prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm. Police Licensing Officer, Owen Dunn, outlined these concerns, highlighting the proximity of schools and parks to the premises, and the potential for increased anti-social behaviour and crime if 24-hour alcohol sales were permitted. He noted that the applicant had initially proposed 1am closing, then revised this to 3am, but that the police had not received a definitive response to their own proposed hours. The police's final proposed hours were 8am to 11:30pm Monday to Thursday, 8am to midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 10am to 11:30pm on Sunday, along with agreed conditions.

Emin Fazal Yurtukul, the agent for Alsa Express, explained that the initial 24-hour request had been significantly reduced. He stated that the current application was for alcohol sales until 3am, seven days a week. Yurtukul emphasised the premises' location on a busy main road, the presence of other late-night establishments in the area, and the business's clean record. He also presented customer signatures in support of extended hours, though the Metropolitan Police raised concerns that the petition referred to trading hours rather than specifically sale of alcohol hours, making its validity questionable.

After considering all representations and evidence, the subcommittee was not satisfied that the licensing objectives would be promoted if the application were granted in full. However, they were minded to approve the application subject to the applicant agreeing to the police's proposed revised hours: 8am to 11:30pm Monday to Thursday, 8am to midnight Friday to Saturday, and 10am to 11:30pm on Sunday, along with the agreed conditions. The applicant agreed to these revised hours and conditions.

The subcommittee, chaired by Councillor Sabbir Zamee, with Councillor Victoria Hornby and Councillor Regina Rahman in attendance, formally agreed to grant the application with these revised hours and conditions.