South London Chicken Shop Granted Alcohol Sales Permission Despite Police Objections
A new South London chicken shop and convenience store in Belvedere has been granted permission to sell alcohol despite significant concerns raised by the Metropolitan Police and local council teams about potential antisocial behaviour.
Licence Approval with Extended Hours
Bexley Council's Licensing Sub-Committee has approved a premises licence application from RJK Chicken Limited for Chicken World and JRR Local Store at 51 Nuxley Road in Belvedere. The business, which occupies a former takeaway unit that has been renovated to accommodate both a food outlet and convenience store, will now be permitted to sell alcohol from 7am to 11pm every day.
Additionally, the licence allows alcohol sales until midnight when drinks are part of delivery meal orders, aligning with the establishment's opening hours of 7am to midnight. The convenience store section will sell groceries, sweets, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages alongside the chicken shop operations.
Police and Council Objections Over Safety Concerns
The Metropolitan Police formally objected to the application, expressing concerns that the late operating hours could lead to increased crime, disorder, and antisocial behaviour in the area. Police representatives specifically warned about customers who have been drinking potentially congregating in the street late at night to eat food, creating a public nuisance.
Bexley Council's own Licensing and Environmental Health teams also raised objections to the application, echoing police concerns about the potential for late-night disturbances in an area already containing multiple pubs and other late-night food establishments.
Licensing Conditions and Committee Concerns
The council imposed several conditions on the premises licence, including mandatory CCTV operation, staff training regarding alcohol sales, and a requirement that alcohol can only be sold via delivery if customers purchase at least £5 worth of food.
During the hearing on January 26, committee members expressed particular concern about director Janisan Ketheeswaran's apparent confusion about certain operational matters. Mr Ketheeswaran had installed an awning to allow outdoor eating, which the committee discouraged while questioning whether proper planning consent had been obtained for this addition.
The committee noted that Mr Ketheeswaran seemed unclear about whether he held a personal licence and initially indicated that his uncle Nirochkumar Thavarajah—listed as the designated premises supervisor—would not be present at the business, before changing his statement to say his uncle would be there five days weekly.
Conditional Approval with Future Review Possibility
Despite these concerns, the Licensing Sub-Committee decided to grant the licence with a clear warning that it could be revisited if problems emerge. The decision notice stated that the committee had placed faith in the business that was not shared by responsible authorities and cautioned that any undermining of licensing objectives could trigger a licence review.
The committee specifically warned against encouraging people to remain in the area late at night, a concern they felt Mr Ketheeswaran had failed to adequately appreciate during the hearing process.
