The Licensing Sub-Committee of Kingston upon Thames Council met on Tuesday 22 September 2026 to consider two applications for variations to premises licences. The committee granted the variation for The Surbiton Fox, subject to amended conditions, and granted the variation for KFC, with a modification to the proposed hours.

The Surbiton Fox, 60 Portsmouth Road, Surbiton, KT6 4HS

The subcommittee considered an application to vary the premises licence for The Surbiton Fox, formerly known as The Fox and Hounds. The application sought to amend the licensed plan to extend the licensable area to the full extent of the premises, change the name of the premises, and replace an existing condition. No changes were sought to the licensable activities or hours.

Six valid representations were received from other persons¹, primarily concerning the prevention of public nuisance. Concerns were raised about the proposed extension of the licensed area to include the car park and outbuildings, with residents fearing increased noise and disturbance. Specific worries included noise from customer conversations, congregating patrons, amplified music, and the general impact on residential amenity. There was also concern about the loss of parking and the potential for increased on-street parking in the surrounding residential streets.

The applicant's agent, George Domleo from Flint Bishop Solicitors, explained that the application was modest and had been amended in response to residents' concerns. He highlighted that the investment in the pub was substantial and that the proposed changes would allow for the use of the car park and outbuildings for organised events, with alcohol sales from these areas and existing external seating areas ceasing at 10pm. He also noted that there were no objections from responsible authorities such as the police, the licensing authority, or environmental health.

After deliberation, the subcommittee decided to grant the variation of the premises licence for The Surbiton Fox. However, the decision included a modification to the proposed conditions. Specifically, the subcommittee agreed to replace condition 8 of the existing licence, which stated that All alcohol sold for consumption off the premises shall be sold in sealed containers, with a new condition: Customers will not be permitted to remove from the premises any alcohol supplied by the premises in open containers, unless to an external drinking area set aside for consumption. This amendment aimed to address concerns about public nuisance while allowing for the operational flexibility sought by the applicant.

KFC, 167 Clarence Street, Kingston Upon Thames, KT1 1QT

The subcommittee also considered an application to vary the premises licence for KFC at 167 Clarence Street. The application sought to extend the provision of late-night refreshment until midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and until 2am on the mornings following Friday and Saturday. After midnight, the premises would operate a delivery and collection service only, with no customer access to the restaurant. The application also proposed to replace all existing conditions on the premises licence with a new operating schedule.

Representations were received from the Metropolitan Police and Councillor James Giles, Leader of the Independent Opposition Group. The Metropolitan Police objected on the grounds of the prevention of crime and disorder and the prevention of public nuisance. They argued that Kingston Town Centre already experiences significant issues related to the night-time economy and that extending the hours of a late-night refreshment venue would exacerbate these problems, potentially becoming a focal point for patrons leaving other licensed premises and increasing footfall, which could lead to further crime, disorder, and nuisance. Councillor James Giles also objected on the grounds of the prevention of public nuisance, stating that the proposed extension into the early hours would lead to increased activity from delivery riders and vehicles at a noise-sensitive time. He also noted that the application proposed removing all existing conditions and replacing them with a new operating schedule, for which he saw no justification for extending the hours.

The applicant proposed a comprehensive set of conditions within their operating schedule, including measures to cease walk-in customers after midnight, signage to advise customers of the delivery-only service, and the powering down of self-service kiosks. They also proposed a trained late-night duty manager, a minimum of three team members on duty, and robust training procedures. For crime prevention, conditions included a digital CCTV system, no cash in tills during late-night trading, and a risk assessment for SIA door staff. Public safety measures included ensuring exit routes were unobstructed and maintaining ventilation systems. To prevent public nuisance, conditions covered waste management, noise control from loudspeakers, dispersal of customers, and specific requirements for delivery riders regarding parking, engine use, noise, and congregation.

The subcommittee decided to grant the variation of the premises licence for KFC. However, they modified the proposed hours for late-night refreshment. The approved hours for late-night refreshment were set as: Sunday to Thursday from 11pm to midnight, and Friday and Saturday from 11pm to 1am the following morning. This decision reflected a compromise, extending the hours but not to the full extent requested by the applicant, and also incorporated the proposed operating schedule as conditions on the licence.