The Licensing Act 2003 Sub-Committee met on Friday, 11 September 2026, to consider an application for a premises licence for St. Mary's Church in Walthamstow. The committee decided to grant the licence with specific conditions and recommendations aimed at upholding licensing objectives.

Grant of a Premises Licence: St. Mary's Church, Walthamstow

The Sub-Committee granted the application for a premises licence for St. Mary's Church, located at Church End, Walthamstow, E17 9RJ. The licence permits the supply of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises, and the exhibition of films, both between 12:00 and 22:30, Monday to Sunday. The premises will be open to the public from 08:00 to 23:00 daily.

In addition to the conditions agreed with the licensing team, the Sub-Committee imposed a specific condition: the sale and consumption of alcohol must cease in the external areas of the premises at 21:00.

The committee also made the following recommendations to the applicant, The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Walthamstow:

• To provide a monthly schedule of projected licensable events to the Almshouses on Vinegar Alley and Church End.
• To limit the number of smokers in the designated smoking area to eight people, ensuring this area is at least 20 metres from the boundary of any residential property.

These decisions were considered appropriate by the Sub-Committee to uphold the licensing objectives, which include the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

The applicant and other relevant parties have the right to appeal this decision to Thames Magistrates' Court within twenty-one days of notification. A written explanation of the decision will be sent to all parties within five working days.

The application had received representations from other persons and the responsible authority, the licensing team, raising concerns related to the licensing objectives. The applicant, represented by Daniel Copperwheat, Operations Manager for The Parochial Church Council of the Ecclesiastical Parish of Walthamstow, and their agent Peter Mayhew, had outlined steps in their operating schedule to promote the licensing objectives. These included staff training on responsible alcohol sales, age verification policies, maintaining CCTV systems, fire risk assessments, waste management, and a dispersal policy.

Concerns raised by Mary Fahey of Monoux Almshouses, a direct neighbour, focused on the prevention of public nuisance, specifically citing the potential for reduced privacy, peace of mind, increased noise, and litter due to the requested seven-day licence. Ms. Fahey suggested granting a licence only for weekends.

The Licensing Authority's representation, submitted by Sherman Xavier, Licensing Enforcement Officer, also highlighted concerns regarding the prevention of crime and disorder, public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. They proposed specific conditions related to record-keeping, staff training on alcohol sales and refusals, regular glass and bottle collection, monitoring of external areas, and a refusal book. The Licensing Authority indicated they would withdraw their representation if the applicant agreed to incorporate these conditions.