The Licensing Sub Committee D was scheduled to convene to consider applications for premises licence variations. Councillor Clare Jeapes, Recycling Champion, was scheduled to chair the meeting. The committee was to discuss applications relating to H R Organic Food and Vegan Shop and The Passage Pantry.

H R Organic Food and Vegan Shop

The committee was scheduled to discuss a premise licence variation application for H R Organic Food and Vegan Shop, located at 786 Holloway Road.

Ahir Organic Limited, the premise licence holder, applied to vary the existing licence to:

• Extend the hours for the sale of alcohol (off the premises) to 08:00 to 03:00, Monday to Sunday.
• Extend the premises opening hours to 08:00 to 03:00, Monday to Sunday.
• Update the premises floor plans.

The shop currently has a licence to sell alcohol off the premises from 09:00 to 23:00, Monday to Sunday, and to open from 08:00 to 23:00, Monday to Sunday.

The report pack noted that representations had been received from the Metropolitan Police, a local resident, local ward councillors, and the Better Archway Forum. The Council's Noise Service had also submitted a representation, but this was later withdrawn after the applicant agreed to certain conditions.

The Metropolitan Police's representation stated that they objected to the application for increased hours for off sales of alcohol. Police Constable Darren Emanuel from the Islington Licensing Team stated:

It is the view of Police that if granted, this application would undermine the Licensing Objectives (namely the Prevention of Crime and Disorder and the Prevention of Public Nuisance).

The venue in question sits within Archway, a locality that invites specific provision in the Local Authorities Licensing Policy under the Archway Cumulative Impact Area. Residents in the area in question experience well above average criminality and antisocial behaviour, and the locality experiences serious issues with vagrancy and street drinking.

The report pack stated that Councillors Janet Burgess M.B.E., Sheila Chapman, and James Potts, Labour Councillors for Junction Ward, also objected to the application, noting that Archway is an area subject to the Cumulative Impact Action Policy¹ and an area of high crime with schools and an early years' centre nearby.

The Better Archway Forum supported the councillors' objection, stating that there was little support for additional off licence hours in the area, and that there was real concern about the impact of off licences on anti social behaviour.

A local resident also objected, stating that the extension of licensing hours would cause a noise nuisance and that late night callers to the shop could present a risk to residents.

The applicant, Krutiben Ahir, Director at Ahir Organic Limited, responded to the objections by explaining that the business is a food-led, organic and ethical retail shop, with alcohol accounting for only 10-15% of sales. They also stated that they offer additional services such as Keynest and Payzone, and that many local customers regularly ask them to stay open late, especially those who return from work late and need to top up their electricity or gas.

Krutiben Ahir also stated that the proposed hours had been trialled using four Temporary Event Notices² in April and May 2025, and that no complaints, disturbances or enforcement action resulted from these trials.

The report pack stated that the Licensing Sub-Committee needed to consider Licensing Policy 3, which states that there is a presumption of refusal in Cumulative Impact Areas unless the Sub-Committee is satisfied that there will be no adverse cumulative impact on the licensing objectives[^1].

The report pack included suggested conditions of approval consistent with the operating schedule, as well as conditions agreed with the Council's Noise Service.

The Passage Pantry

The committee was also scheduled to discuss a premise licence variation application for The Passage Pantry, located at 351-352 Upper Street.

The applicant applied to vary the existing licence to:

• Allow the sale of alcohol, which may be consumed on the premises, Monday to Friday from 08:00 until 22:00, on Saturdays from 10:00 until 20:00, and on Sundays from 10:00 until 16:00.
• Extend the opening hours on Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 22:00, on Saturdays from 10:00 – 20:00, and on Sunday from 10:00 – 16:00.

The premises currently has a licence to sell alcohol, which may be consumed off the premises, Monday to Sunday from 08:00 until 21:00, and to open Monday to Sunday from 08:00 until 21:00.

The report pack noted that representations had been received from two local residents.

One resident objected to the granting of on-sales, stating that it would result in noise in the evening and that the shop is located on the A1, making public safety an issue.

Another resident stated that the licence must have conditions to ensure that any subsequent operation does not cause a nuisance or add to the cumulative impact, and runs it in the same way the current operators do. They suggested conditions that the on licence will be limited to 8 people served inside the premises and that there will be no outside drinking and no vertical drinking.

The applicant stated that they are fully committed to upholding the four licensing objectives³, and that they have over four years of experience managing The Passage Pantry.

The report pack stated that the Licensing Sub-Committee needed to consider Licensing Policy 3, which states that there is a presumption of refusal in Cumulative Impact Areas unless the Sub-Committee is satisfied that there will be no adverse cumulative impact on the licensing objectives.

The report pack included existing conditions of the premises licence, as well as conditions proposed by the Metropolitan Police, which the applicant had accepted. These included:

• Ensuring that all staff are trained on relevant matters, including the conditions of the premises licence, age restricted products and the operation of the CCTV system.
• Operating the 'Challenge 25' proof of age scheme.
• Limiting sales of beers, lagers or ciders of above 6.5% ABV to premium beers, lagers and ciders supplied in glass bottles for off sales.
• Ensuring that there is no vertical drinking at any time and alcohol is not sold or supplied on the premises otherwise than by waiter/waitress service to seated customers.
• Maintaining adequate levels of staff and security.
• Providing Chelsea Hooks or similar bag retention devices on the underside of tables and counters.
• Ensuring that there will be no externally promoted events.