Kilburn shop fails to get 24/7 licence

A newsagent was refused permission to sell alcohol 24/7 amid fears it could exacerbate street drinking and anti-social behaviour in the area.

Brent Council’s licensing committee rejected an application by D and M Food and Wine, in Kilburn Bridge, Kilburn High Road, to sell alcohol around the clock.

However, it was granted permission to offer alcoholic products between 10am and 11pm each day.

Shopkeeper Riteshkumar Patel, who applied for the licence, wanted to maximise his opportunity to sell alcohol, explaining that it makes up a key part of his business.

He added that he is yet to see evidence of anti-social behaviour in Kilburn in the six months he has worked there and described his previous patch in Willesden as “much worse”.

But council licensing officers and police representatives expressed concerns about the impact this would have on the surrounding area.

They noted that Kilburn High Road is a key area for street drinking and has been designated as a ‘cumulative impact zone’ by authorities.

Police officers were also concerned that granting a 24-hour licence could encourage those leaving nearby pubs to carry on drinking if they had further access to alcohol.

They added that nearby supermarkets and off-licenses had conditions imposed that stopped them selling alcohol past 11pm.

Council officers said curtailing the hours proposed in the application to match those of nearby shops was “fair and proportionate”.

This was agreed upon by the licensing committee, who said Mr Patel should be given the chance to operate since the site has worked as an off-licence in the past.

It added that he must meet a series of other conditions, including the installation of a new CCTV system and a ban on single cans of beers, lagers and ciders and those above 5.5 per cent ABV.