The Licensing Sub-Committee of Southwark Council met on Thursday 3 September 2026 to consider an application for a premises licence. The primary item on the agenda was an application for a premises licence for Char Chicken, located at 185 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RW.

Licensing Act 2003: Char Chicken, 185 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RW

The sub-committee was scheduled to consider an application made by Char 1746 Ltd. for a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003¹ for Char Chicken, located at 185 Walworth Road, London SE17 1RW.

The application was for the provision of late-night refreshment. Initially, the applicant sought to operate from 23:00 to 05:00 from Sunday to Thursday, and from 23:00 to 05:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The premises' opening hours were proposed to be from 07:00 to 05:00 daily. The applicant described the premises as a Cafe from 7am - 1pm, 1pm - 11pm turkish restaurant and take away. no alcohol sold.

A representation was received from the Metropolitan Police Service, who objected to the requested hours, stating they far exceeded those recommended in the Southwark Council Statement of Licensing Policy². The police noted that the area is already saturated with late-night refreshment venues and that some existing venues operating outside recommended hours had historically caused problems, leading to an increase in crime and disorder. The police also raised concerns that the proposed control measures were vague and unenforceable, particularly regarding the prevention of crime and disorder.

However, the Metropolitan Police later withdrew their representation after the applicant agreed to amended operating times and additional conditions. The revised hours proposed were:

• Opening to the Public: Sunday to Thursday from 07:00 to 00:00, and Friday to Saturday from 07:00 to 01:00.
• Late Night Refreshment: Sunday to Thursday from 23:00 to 00:00, and Friday to Saturday from 23:00 to 01:00.

These agreed conditions included the installation and maintenance of a digital CCTV system, the keeping of all CCTV footage for thirty-one days, the availability of trained staff to view and download footage, prominent signage regarding CCTV operation and closure times, the use of reputable delivery companies, instructions for staff and delivery drivers to respect local residents, monitoring of delivery driver waiting areas, an incident log, a prohibition on admitting persons carrying open vessels of alcohol, and signage requesting customers to leave quietly.

A local resident also submitted a representation, objecting to the application on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance and the prevention of crime and disorder. The resident expressed concern that the initial proposed hours until 5:00 am were inappropriate for a residential area and could lead to noise, disturbance, increased litter, and sleep disturbance. While acknowledging the agreed amendments with the police, the resident remained concerned that the revised hours of midnight (Sunday to Thursday) and 1:00 am (Friday and Saturday) were still likely to cause disturbance. The resident proposed further reduced hours, with late-night refreshment ceasing at 23:00 on Sundays to Thursdays and operating only until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The resident indicated a willingness to withdraw their representation if these further reduced hours were accepted.

The report pack also detailed the background of the Licensing Act 2003, the council's statement of licensing policy, and the implications of cumulative impact areas. The premises is located outside of a cumulative impact area, but within the Elephant and Castle Major Town Centre, where recommended closing hours are until 00:00 on Sundays to Thursdays and 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The report also touched upon climate change implications, community, equalities, and health impacts, noting that health impacts cannot be considered by law under the Licensing Act 2003.