The Westminster City Council Licensing Sub-Committee met on 24 April 2025 to consider an application for a new premises licence for KFC at 43 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0AP. The committee granted the application, allowing the premises to supply late night refreshment until 3 am seven days a week, with the premises open to the public during the same hours.

KFC, 43 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0AP

The application for a new premises licence for KFC at 43 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0AP was granted. The licence allows for late night refreshment to be served between 11 pm and 3 am, Monday to Sunday, with the premises open to the public during these hours.

The application was made by Supercharger South Limited, represented by Woods Whur 2014 Limited. Representations were received from the Metropolitan Police Service, the Licensing Authority, and Environmental Health Service.

The Metropolitan Police Service raised concerns about the potential for increased crime and disorder, citing the premises' location within the West End Cumulative Impact Zone (CIA), which has high crime rates. They argued that the extended hours would attract intoxicated individuals, leading to group formation, undesirable conduct, and increased calls to the police. They also suggested that the premises' opening hours could impact wider events and increase the risk of robbery and violence.

The Licensing Authority also objected, stating that the application was contrary to Westminster's Statement of Licensing Policy, specifically CIP1 and FFP1, which have a presumption to refuse applications for fast food premises outside of core hours within the West End CIA. They argued that the proposed hours were significantly in excess of core hours and that the applicant needed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances for the application to be granted.

Environmental Health Service raised concerns about potential increases in public nuisance and impacts on public safety due to the extended hours for late night refreshment. They suggested that consuming hot food on the streets could lead to increased litter and noise issues.

The applicant, Supercharger South Limited, presented a case arguing that the application would not add to cumulative impact. They highlighted extensive work undertaken, including temporary event notices (TENs) that ran without incident, noise reports confirming minimal impact, and expert witness reports. They proposed numerous conditions, including the closure of the first floor seating area after midnight, making the premises takeaway and delivery only, the installation of a StaffSafe™ system, additional CCTV, a dedicated litter picker, and enhanced staff training. They also pointed to the premises' quick service model, which aimed for customers to be in and out within three minutes, and the availability of public transport as factors mitigating potential negative impacts.

The committee considered the evidence and submissions, noting the applicant's experience and the proposed conditions. They found the applicant to be a responsible operator and were persuaded that the proposed conditions would promote the licensing objectives. The committee decided to grant the licence, subject to a comprehensive set of conditions, including those agreed with Environmental Health and the Metropolitan Police, and additional conditions proposed by the applicant. These conditions covered CCTV, incident logging, dispersal policies, litter control, noise, and child protection measures. The committee also noted that the premises would surrender its existing licence should the new one be granted.

The decision was made after careful consideration of the committee papers, additional evidence, and submissions from all parties, taking into account the individual circumstances of the case and the promotion of the four licensing objectives. The decision will be communicated to all parties within five working days.

The Westminster City Council Licensing Sub-Committee met on 24 April 2025 to consider an application for a new premises licence for KFC at 43 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0AP. The committee granted the application, allowing the premises to supply late night refreshment until 3 am seven days a week, with the premises open to the public during the same hours.

KFC, 43 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0AP

The application for a new premises licence for KFC at 43 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0AP was granted. The licence permits the supply of late night refreshment between 11 pm and 3 am, Monday to Sunday, with the premises open to the public during these hours.

The application was made by Supercharger South Limited, represented by Woods Whur 2014 Limited. Representations were received from the Metropolitan Police Service, the Licensing Authority, and the Environmental Health Service.

The Metropolitan Police Service raised concerns about the potential for increased crime and disorder, citing the premises' location within the West End Cumulative Impact Zone (CIA), which has high crime rates. They argued that the extended hours could attract intoxicated individuals, leading to group formation, undesirable conduct, and an increase in police calls. They also suggested that the premises' opening hours could impact wider events and increase the risk of robbery and violence.

The Licensing Authority also objected, stating that the application was contrary to Westminster's Statement of Licensing Policy, specifically CIP1 and FFP1, which create a presumption to refuse applications for fast food premises outside of core hours within the West End CIA. They argued that the proposed hours significantly exceeded core hours and that the applicant needed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances for the application to be granted.

The Environmental Health Service expressed concerns about potential increases in public nuisance and impacts on public safety due to the extended late night refreshment hours. They suggested that consuming hot food on the streets could lead to increased litter and noise issues.

The applicant, Supercharger South Limited, presented a case arguing that the application would not add to cumulative impact. They highlighted extensive work undertaken, including temporary event notices (TENs) that ran without incident, noise reports confirming minimal impact, and expert witness reports. They proposed numerous conditions, including the closure of the first floor seating area after midnight, making the premises takeaway and delivery only, the installation of a StaffSafe™ system, additional CCTV, a dedicated litter picker, and enhanced staff training. They also emphasised the premises' quick service model, aiming for customers to be in and out within three minutes, and the availability of public transport as factors mitigating potential negative impacts.

The committee considered the evidence and submissions, noting the applicant's experience and the proposed conditions. They found the applicant to be a responsible operator and were persuaded that the proposed conditions would promote the licensing objectives. The committee decided to grant the licence, subject to a comprehensive set of conditions, including those agreed with Environmental Health and the Metropolitan Police, and additional conditions proposed by the applicant. These conditions covered CCTV, incident logging, dispersal policies, litter control, noise, and child protection measures. The committee also noted that the premises would surrender its existing licence should the new one be granted.

The decision was made after careful consideration of the committee papers, additional evidence, and submissions from all parties, taking into account the individual circumstances of the case and the promotion of the four licensing objectives. The decision will be communicated to all parties within five working days.