The Licensing Act Subcommittee of Newham Council met on Wednesday 8 July 2026 to consider a new premises licence application for 43a Water Lane, Stratford. The meeting was adjourned due to the applicant's solicitor misinterpreting the hearing date, and a new date of 5 August 2026 was provisionally set.

New Premises Licence Application for 43a Water Lane, Stratford

The primary purpose of the meeting was to hear and determine an application for a new premises licence for 43a Water Lane, Stratford, E15 4NL. The application was for the supply of alcohol for off-premises consumption, with proposed opening hours from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday, and 8:00 AM to 10:30 PM on Sundays.

However, the meeting was adjourned shortly after it began due to a misunderstanding regarding the hearing date by the applicant's legal representative. Councillor Syed Naqvi, Chair of the Licensing Act Subcommittee, noted that the applicant and their solicitor had misread an email concerning the hearing. The case officer, Colin Hunt, confirmed that the applicant's solicitor had contacted him late the previous night to state they would await the hearing result from the 8th, indicating a misunderstanding of the scheduled date.

Due to the absence of the applicant and their agent, and with the agreement of the resident present, the committee decided it was not in the public interest to proceed. Legal advisor Umair Malik advised that it would not be in the public interest to proceed in the applicant's absence, as the committee would be unable to test the applicant's knowledge and understanding of their own application.

Jane Keating, a resident of Mountby Grove, who lives near the proposed premises, stated she understood the need for postponement due to the misunderstanding and agreed with the adjournment. Councillor Shaban Mohammed and Councillor Robert Gordon also agreed with the advice to adjourn.

Councillor Naqvi noted that there had been 14 objections to the application and that pursuing it in the applicant's absence would not be in the public interest. The hearing was therefore adjourned, with a provisional date set for 5 August 2026. This would provide an opportunity for the applicant or their agent to attend and explain their application, and for any residents who had made representations to also attend. The meeting was then closed.