The Licensing Sub-Committee of Wandsworth Council scheduled a meeting to discuss licensing applications for Sadaf Express and Sweet Tooth Cafe. The meeting was scheduled to take place on 8 July 2025. Councillors Ffrench and Davies were appointed to the Licensing Sub-Committee.

Sweet Tooth Cafe, 275 Upper Richmond Road, London, SW15 6SP

The Licensing Sub-Committee were scheduled to discuss a new premises licence application for Sweet Tooth Cafe at 275 Upper Richmond Road, London, SW15 6SP. Aleksandar34 Limited applied for the licence, seeking permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises from 11:00 to 23:00 Sunday through Thursday, and from 11:00 to 01:00 on Friday and Saturday. They also requested permission to provide late night refreshment from 23:00 to 23:30 Sunday to Thursday, and from 23:00 to 01:30 on Friday and Saturday.

According to the report pack, the business previously operated under a premises licence as a cafe since August 2021, but the licence has since lapsed due to the dissolution of the licence holding company.

The Trading Standards Officer raised concerns that the operating schedule did not properly address the protection of children from harm and prevention of crime and disorder licensing objectives, but these concerns were addressed by the applicant.

The Licensing Sub-Committee were scheduled to be made aware of 20 representations made by other persons objecting to the application on the grounds of public nuisance and crime and disorder. These objections included:

• Late night street drinking
• Noise disturbance from customers arriving and leaving the premises
• Loud music
• Anti-social behaviour
• Increased incidents of crime

The Licensing Sub-Committee were also scheduled to be made aware of a petition in support of the application.

A Senior Environmental Services Officer (Noise and Nuisance Team) within the Regulatory Services Partnership, Rob Newby-Walker, objected to the application on the grounds of public nuisance.

In the early hours of Saturday 7th June at 01.04 hours officer from our service responded to a complaint from the resident living directly above the premises, witnessing noise coming from Sweet Tooth in that complainant's home. They witnessed conversation noise from the number of people gathered in the premises which was coming up through the property and was intrusive in the resident's bedroom as to be a nuisance, where it was felt it would impact on sleep.

Rob Newby-Walker suggested that his concerns would be addressed if the hours of the application were amended to alcohol sales ceasing at 22:00 daily and the premises closing at 23:00 daily, with no provision of late night refreshment.

Other objections included concerns about noise, late-night disturbances, and foot traffic that may disrupt the quiet character of the area, especially during night-time hours when most residents are resting.

One person wrote that they had received a threatening text message from the owner of Sweet Tooth Cafe after objecting to a previous licence application in 2023.

Sadaf Express, 7 Lower Richmond Road, London, SW15 1EJ

The Licensing Sub-Committee were scheduled to discuss a new premises licence application for Sadaf Express at 7 Lower Richmond Road, London, SW15 1EJ. Naeem Sadegi applied for the licence to allow the sale of alcohol (for consumption off the premises) from 08:00 until 23:00 Sunday through Thursday, and from 08:00 until 01:00 Friday and Saturdays.

The Metropolitan Police and the Trading Standards officer initially raised concerns that the operating schedule did not properly address the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm licensing objectives, but these concerns were addressed by the applicant.

The Licensing Sub-Committee were scheduled to be made aware of two representations made by 'other persons' regarding public nuisance, crime and disorder and protection of children from harm issues. These objections included:

• Concerns that the sale of alcohol from this premises could lead to an increase in noise, litter and disorderly behaviour in the area, particularly at night, which would affect local residents.
• Concerns that the sale of alcohol from this premises could contribute to an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour in the area, including public intoxication.
• Concerns regarding groups 'loitering' in area under the influence of alcohol.
• Concerns about children being exposed to the sale of alcohol leading to an increase in underage drinking.

One local business owner, Waqar Ahmed Abbasi, licence holder of a shop operating on 10 Putney High Street, objected to the application, citing concerns about crime and disorder, public nuisance and the protection of children from harm. Waqar Ahmed Abbasi stated that the area of Putney High Street already experiences alcohol-related issues, and that the presence of another off-licence so closely by may contribute further to these problems.

Another person, Alex Peters, objected to the application, citing concerns about public nuisance, prevention of crime, and public safety.