The Licensing Sub-Committee of Southwark Council was scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence for Kirkwood Local, a convenience store and off-licence. The meeting's agenda also included standard procedural items.

Kirkwood Local Premises Licence Application

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application for a premises licence for Kirkwood Local, located at 2 Kirkwood Road, London SE15 3XX. The application, made by Jaspal Singh Bajaj, sought to allow the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption.

Initially, the applicant had requested 24-hour opening and alcohol sales. However, following conciliation with the Metropolitan Police Service and the council's Licensing Authority, the proposed hours were amended. The revised application sought opening hours and alcohol sales from 06:00 to 00:00, Monday to Sunday.

The report pack detailed that the Metropolitan Police Service had initially objected to the application due to concerns about the requested hours exceeding those recommended in the Southwark Statement of Licensing Policy¹ and the premises' recent history. The police noted that the premises had previously had its licence revoked following a review initiated by Trading Standards due to evidence of illegal activities. However, the police later withdrew their representation after the applicant agreed to the amended hours and additional conditions.

The council's Licensing Authority also raised concerns, primarily regarding the proposed hours exceeding the policy for local town centres (11:00 to 00:00) and the potential for non-compliance if the premises remained open after alcohol sales ceased. They also highlighted the premises' history, including a previous licence revocation and the ongoing appeal against that decision. The Licensing Authority recommended that if the application were to be granted, it should align with the policy hours and include specific additional conditions.

The report pack outlined a history of issues at the premises, including a review initiated by Trading Standards in March 2026. This review cited offences related to illicit tobacco, counterfeit vapes, cannabis, and non-compliant alcohol labelling. The previous licence for Nunhead Express (also known as Nisa) at the same address was revoked by the licensing sub-committee on 2 June 2026. The previous licence holder was appealing this decision, which allowed the premises to continue operating until the appeal was heard.

The report pack also detailed proposed conditions for the licence, including those agreed with the police and those offered by the applicant in their operating schedule. These covered aspects such as CCTV, staff training, age verification policies, and restrictions on the strength of certain alcoholic beverages.

The Licensing Act 2003² was referenced throughout the report, outlining the four licensing objectives that must be promoted: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. The council's Statement of Licensing Policy 2026 to 2031³ was also a key document for consideration, providing guidance on appropriate hours and conditions for licensed premises.

The report also touched upon climate change implications, stating that while not a legal factor in licensing decisions, members could encourage applicants to promote the reduction of climate change impacts. The report also noted that health impacts cannot be considered by law when making decisions under the Licensing Act 2003.