The Licensing (2003 Act) Sub-Committee of Newham Council met on Wednesday 22 July 2026 to consider an application to vary the premises licence for Food and Wine Costcutter, located at 169 High Street North, East Ham, E6 1JB. The committee decided to grant the variation in part, approving the extended hours requested but refusing the application to reduce the minimum spirit bottle size.

Variation of Premises Licence for Food and Wine Costcutter

The meeting focused on an application by Rajah Sounthararajah, the licence holder for Food and Wine Costcutter, to vary the existing premises licence. The application sought to extend the hours for the supply of alcohol from 8am to 11pm seven days a week, and to amend a condition relating to the minimum size of spirit bottles sold from 35cl to 20cl.

A single resident submitted a representation against the application, citing concerns related to crime and disorder, the prevention of public nuisance, the protection of children from harm, and public safety. The premises is located within a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ), meaning there is a presumption against granting new licences or variations unless the applicant can demonstrate no negative impact on licensing objectives.

The committee heard that the premises had a history of issues, including a licence review in June 2024 due to evidence of selling high-strength alcohol and large quantities of small spirit bottles to street drinkers. This review had resulted in the imposition of further conditions on the licence, including a minimum spirit bottle size of 35cl and a suspension of the licence for four weeks.

During the hearing, it was noted that no representations had been received from responsible authorities. The licensing officer confirmed that all responsible authorities had been notified of the application.

The applicant, Mr. Sounthararajah, explained that the requested extension of hours would allow for a more consistent trading period. Regarding the reduction in the minimum spirit bottle size to 20cl, he stated that this was a common customer request and that other nearby premises sold similar-sized bottles.

Members of the committee expressed concerns about the potential for increased street drinking and anti-social behaviour, particularly given the premises' location within a CIZ and its past issues. They questioned the applicant on mitigation measures, including staff training and how they would deal with intoxicated individuals attempting to purchase alcohol. The applicant stated that staff would refuse sales to visibly drunk individuals and that a refusal book would be maintained. He also indicated a willingness to keep the 20cl bottles behind the counter if this was a condition of the licence.

The committee deliberated on the application, considering the history of the premises, the resident's representation, and the applicant's proposals. The decision was made to grant the variation in part. The extended hours for the supply of alcohol were approved as requested. However, the application to reduce the minimum spirit bottle size from 35cl to 20cl was refused, meaning the existing condition requiring spirits to be sold in bottles of no less than 35cl remained in place. The reasons for this decision were detailed in a written decision letter to be sent to the applicant within five working days.