The Licensing Sub-Committee of Hammersmith and Fulham Council met on Wednesday 16 April 2025 to consider an application to vary a premises licence for Planet Plenty. The application sought to extend operating hours and remove a condition restricting the sale of high-strength alcohol.

Planet Plenty Premises Licence Variation

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application to vary the premises licence for Planet Plenty, located at 123-125 Wandsworth Bridge Road, London, SW6 2TS. The applicant, Mr Mohammed Azeem, sought to extend the hours for the sale of alcohol off the premises and the general opening hours of the premises. Additionally, the application requested the removal of condition 10 from the licence, which currently prohibits the sale of super-strength beer, lagers, or ciders of 5.5% ABV or above, unless agreed in writing with the Metropolitan Police.

The report pack detailed the current hours of operation for the sale of alcohol and the premises' opening hours, which were set to be extended by 30 minutes on weekdays and Saturdays, and by 1.5 hours on Sundays. The proposed new hours for alcohol sales would be from 7:30 am to 11:00 pm Monday to Saturday, and 8:00 am to 11:00 pm on Sundays. The proposed opening hours mirrored these timings.

A key point of contention was the proposed removal of condition 10. The Police Licensing Team submitted an objection to this aspect of the application, citing concerns about the prevention of crime and disorder, and the prevention of public nuisance. The police highlighted that Hammersmith and Fulham has a significant issue with street drinkers and that the condition restricting the sale of high-strength alcohol is a tried and tested method to mitigate this problem. Evidence was presented regarding a previous breach of this condition by the premises, where fourteen products over 5.5% ABV were offered for sale when only seven had been agreed with the police. The police argued that removing this condition would likely lead to the sale of products favoured by street drinkers, thereby contributing to anti-social behaviour.

The applicant, in their additional information, contested the police's claims. They argued that Planet Plenty does not appeal to street drinkers due to its appearance, location, and pricing, and that they have not contributed to street drinking issues in the past. The applicant provided photographs of the premises to illustrate its non-traditional convenience store appearance, highlighting displays of flowers, cards, and gifting items. They also pointed to other nearby off-licences that are permitted to sell higher ABV products and are located closer to areas where street drinking is observed, suggesting these premises are a greater concern. The applicant also detailed a history of misunderstandings regarding the licence conditions, attributing it to a period of disruption following a proposed sale of the business. They stated that they have since undertaken staff training and are committed to adhering to licensing objectives.

The report pack also included information on the premises' background, consultation process, and enforcement history. There was a record of a licensing enforcement visit where several licence condition breaches were found, including the premises licence not being displayed and breaches of specific conditions. A previous verbal warning was also issued for displaying alcohol for sale while the licence fee was unpaid. The report also listed two Temporary Event Notices (TENs) that had been submitted for the premises in the past twelve months.

The report also outlined relevant policy considerations from the council's Statement of Licensing Policy (SLP), which guides the Licensing Authority's approach to promoting the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. The determination of the application would involve considering these policies, the representations received, and the applicant's operating schedule. The committee was to decide whether to grant the application in full, in part, or reject it.