The Lambeth Council Licensing Sub-Committee met to discuss two premises license applications. A decision on the application for Jungle Bar was deferred, and the application for Quick Stop to extend its hours for the sale of alcohol was granted, subject to amended and additional conditions.

Quick Stop, Acre Lane

The sub-committee approved the application from Quick Stop, 14 Acre Lane, to extend its hours for the sale of alcohol until 3am.

The applicant, Jan Matteen, stated that the extension to the hours was crucial to the economic viability of the convenience store, and that jobs depended on the decision. Gary Grant, representing Mr Matteen, said that the store sought to serve shift workers, including emergency workers, who wished to purchase groceries, food and alcohol after midnight. He noted that there were no objections from the police or environmental health, and that a petition in support of the extension had been signed by 38 local residents and workers.

Ola Owejuri, representing the licensing authority, raised concerns about the extension of hours beyond those recommended in the council's licensing policy, and the potential for increased public nuisance and antisocial behaviour. Matthew Andrews, representing public health, raised concerns about the proximity of the premises to substance misuse services and the risk to vulnerable people, including street drinkers and rough sleepers.

The sub-committee approved the application, subject to the following conditions:

• Condition 4, relating to the sale of super-strength beers, lagers or ciders, was replaced with standard condition LMC72, meaning that no beers, ales, lagers or ciders of 6% ABV[^1] or above can be sold. [^1]: ABV stands for alcohol by volume, and is a standard measure of how much alcohol a specific drink contains.
• Condition 9, relating to the self-service of miniature bottles or spirits, was replaced with standard condition LMC74, meaning that the premises shall not sell or supply miniature bottles or spirits of 50 millilitres or less.
• Condition 14, relating to staff training, was amended to ensure that all staff members engaged in selling alcohol receive training pertinent to the Licensing Act 2003, including welfare and vulnerable people (WAVE) training, or similar, regarding age-restricted sales and the refusal of sales to people believed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Condition 16, relating to SIA[^2] registered door staff, was amended to state that door staff will be deployed at the premises subject to a risk assessment carried out by the DPS[^3], and that all risk assessments undertaken shall be retained for no less than six months and shall be provided on request to the police or licensing officer. [^2]: The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry. [^3]: A Designated Premises Supervisor is the person named on a premises licence who is responsible for authorising the sale of alcohol.
• In addition to these amended conditions, the sub-committee added the following new conditions:
  • From 11pm, there should be at least two members of staff on duty at the premises until closing time.
  • Any CCTV breakdown or system failure will be notified to the police and local authority immediately and remedied as soon as practicable. Repair records and invoices shall be kept on site for at least 12 months and be readily available to be viewed by all authorised persons upon request.
  • During the hours of operations of the premises, the license holder shall ensure sufficient measures are in place to remove and prevent litter or waste arising or accumulating from customers in the area immediately outside the premises, and that this area should be swept and/or washed and litter and sweepings collected and stored in accordance with the approved refuse storage arrangements by close of business.

Councillor Linda Bray asked what actions the applicant would take if the premises attracted the after-party crowd from local music venues such as Electric Brixton. Mr Matteen said that it was their policy not to serve drunk people or let them in. He added that after 1am, the doors are locked and sales are made through a hatch.

Councillor Marianna Masters asked how quickly the venue could respond to events by increasing staff or bringing in SIA door staff. Mr Grant said that door supervision would be risk assessed, and that if there was a big concert on, the risk assessment would say that door supervision was needed.

Mr Grant criticised some of the studies referred to by Mr Andrews, saying that there was no evidence that antisocial behaviour increased after midnight. Councillor Bray disagreed, saying that drunken behaviour, antisocial behaviour, fights and accidents did increase after midnight.

Jungle Bar, Stockwell Road

The sub-committee deferred a decision on the application for a new premises license for Jungle Bar, 133 Stockwell Road, after it emerged that the hours in the application were not what was written in the report. Councillor David Robson, Chair of Licensing, said that he did not feel that the committee was able to give the application the fair and due process that it should have, given that the hours were not on the application and did not match up. He added that information submitted by the representations had not been received in time due to an internal error. The hearing was adjourned and is expected to be heard on 4 September 2025.