The Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee of Brent Council met on Monday 12 January 2026 to consider an application for a new premises licence. The sole item on the agenda was an application for a new premises licence for Craven Park Local, located at 28 Craven Park Road, NW10 4AB.

Application for a New Premises Licence at Craven Park Local

The meeting was scheduled to discuss an application for a new premises licence for Craven Park Local, submitted by Mr Sathiaseelan Easwarakumar. The application sought permission for the supply of alcohol and for the premises to remain open from 7am to 10pm, seven days a week.

The report pack indicated that this application falls within a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) for Harlesden. The policy for such zones creates a presumption against the granting of new licences or variations that would increase the sale of alcohol, unless the applicant can demonstrate that the licence would not negatively impact the licensing objectives.

Representations regarding the application were received from the Licensing Police, Licensing Officers, and Councillor Matt Kelcher, who is the Labour Councillor for Harlesden and Kensal Green Ward and Chair of the Planning Committee.

The Police, represented by PC Phil Graves, opposed the application in full. Their concerns centred on the fact that the application was almost identical to one previously refused in June 2024, that the premises is located within a Cumulative Impact Zone, and that there is already a high crime and anti-social behaviour rate in the area, with numerous existing off-licences. The Police stated that granting this application would undermine the licensing objectives.

The Licensing Authority, represented by Rhea Vagarwal, Licensing Enforcement Officer, also made a representation recommending refusal. Their concerns were primarily focused on the Cumulative Impact Zone and the potential for the new premises to exacerbate existing issues of street drinking and alcohol-related anti-social behaviour. They noted that the applicant's business model lacked distinctiveness and failed to demonstrate that granting the licence would avoid negative cumulative impact.

Councillor Matt Kelcher also made a representation against the application, citing the Cumulative Impact Zone policy and the applicant's inability to guarantee zero additional impact. He highlighted that street drinking on Craven Park Road was a ward priority and that increased alcohol availability would undermine efforts to reduce anti-social behaviour and crime.

The report pack also included a proposed operating schedule from the applicant, detailing measures for the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm. This included proposals for CCTV, an incident log, staff training, and age verification policies. The applicant, Mr Sathiaseelan Easwarakumar, stated that he had been running the shop for a year with no issues and that his proposed measures, such as not selling single cans or miniatures, would help reduce street drinking.

The Licensing Authority's representation suggested that if the Sub-Committee decided to grant the licence, a comprehensive list of conditions should be included in the operating schedule or as conditions on the premises licence. These conditions covered various aspects, including CCTV operation, age verification, staff training, incident logging, and restrictions on the types of alcohol sold. The proposed hours for the supply of alcohol were Monday to Sunday, 10:00 to 22:00, with opening hours from 07:00 to 22:00.

The report pack also contained background information on cumulative impact assessments (CIAs) and their role within the Licensing Act 2003, as well as crime and anti-social behaviour data for the vicinity of the proposed premises.