The Licensing (Urgency) Sub-Committee of Southwark Council was scheduled to consider a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) for KFC at 128-132 Borough High Street SE1 1LB. The meeting's agenda also included standard procedural items.

Temporary Event Notice for KFC, Borough High Street

The primary item scheduled for discussion was a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) served by Mr Surya Teja Patcha for events at KFC, located at the Basement and Ground Floor, 128-132 Borough High Street SE1 1LB. The notice proposed to permit late night refreshment on 30 May 2026 from 01:00 to 03:00 and on 31 May 2026 from 01:00 to 03:00, with an expected maximum of 25 people.

The Environmental Protection Team (EPT) had served an objection notice regarding this TEN, citing concerns about public nuisance. The EPT noted a significant increase in the regularity of TEN applications for this premises since mid-April 2026, with opening hours extending into the early hours of the morning for several consecutive weekends. A complaint from neighbouring residents on 14 May 2026 detailed issues such as repeated late-night noise disturbance from staff activity, customer activity, deliveries and operations, and persistent cooking and frying oil fumes escaping into residential areas, including bedrooms. The report also highlighted that a recent planning application to extend the opening hours at the site was refused on 24 December 2025, with reasons for refusal relating to noise and air quality (odour).

The report pack provided a history of TENs at the premises over the past 12 months, indicating a pattern of late-night refreshment requests. It also detailed the current premises licence for KFC, which permits late night refreshment indoors and outdoors from 23:00 to 00:00 Sunday to Thursday, and 23:00 to 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The report also outlined the licensing hours of other nearby premises, including Swift Bar, Sainsbury's Local, Belushis & St Christophers Village, The Blue Maid, Runway East Limited, 10 Union Street, The Whisky Exchange, Tesco, Crol and Co London Bridge, The Kings Arms Public House, and Seoul Tokyo.

The sub-committee was to consider this TEN in light of Southwark's Statement of Licensing Policy 2026-2031¹, which designates the premises as being within the Borough and Bankside Cumulative Impact Area (CIA). This CIA has recommended closing times of 00:00 for restaurants and takeaways from Sunday to Thursday, and 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The report also referenced the Licensing Act 2003, which governs the framework for temporary event notices, and the Revised Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, as well as the National Licensing Policy Framework for the hospitality and leisure sectors.

The report also included information on the council's commitment to considering climate change implications, though it noted this was not a legal factor in licensing decisions under the Licensing Act 2003.