Corner Shop Gets Licence Despite Proximity to School
Some residents were against Bishop's Local selling alcohol
Bishop's Local on Munster Road. Picture: Google Streetview
April 9, 2025
A Fulham corner shop has been granted a licence to sell alcohol until 11pm most days despite being a short distance from a primary school.
Residents had sounded the alarm about the proposed Bishop’s Local licence, writing in submissions there is already ‘far too much antisocial behaviour’ and that the shop would pose a risk to young people.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee, however, opted earlier this week to approve the application, alongside conditions including the stipulation that at least two meetings must be organised with residents per year.
The store, which is on Munster Road and just around the corner from St John’s Walham Green CE Primary School, had originally requested opening hours and permission to sell alcohol between 8am and 11pm seven days a week.
This was reduced to 9am to 11pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 10pm on Sundays following representations from residents.
The premises was until several years ago run as a café. Last April the council granted a premises licence to a different applicant, limiting the sale of alcohol to between 10am and 10pm Monday to Sunday.
Councillors were told at Monday’s (7 April) meeting that this licence was surrendered in September due to issues between the tenant and landlord, and that it is currently run by a different operator though without licensable activities.
A total of 10 objections were submitted against the new proposal. One, written by a neighbour, read, “If this small store is allowed to sell alcohol in the middle of our highly residential area, which also sits next to a Primary School, it would mean a further increase of noise and nuisance, but also an unsafe environment for the residents and pupils alike.”
Another wrote, “The convenience store is within close proximity to our house, is in a residential area near a school and creates significant noise pollution after hours already via mopeds delivering items and music played from the store. Selling alcohol up until 11pm will attract further nuisance and noise. The shop owner regularly operates beyond the hours quoted in your application ie. beyond these.”
Concerns about crime, public nuisance and the impact on the school were reiterated by several residents attending the sub-committee meeting.
Robin Adda, a member of the local Neighbourhood Watch and Residents’ Association Co-Ordinator for Felden and Swift Streets, also raised the impact of crowds from nearby Craven Cottage, Fulham Football Club’s home ground.
“We already have people buying alcohol from Tesco on the corner of Fulham Road and Munster Road at football events and leaving empty bottles and cans on our walls, and also doing less pleasant things like relieving themselves against the walls of our houses,” he said.
Mr Adda added that he has lived locally for more than 30 years and that while there is a ‘lid’ on crime at the moment, ‘it would be desperately sad to see that go backwards’.
Surendra Panchal, applicant Hardip Singh Dang’s agent, told councillors his client has ‘tremendous experience’ in licencing, having been issued his own personal licence 12 years ago. He also pointed to his willingness to amend the proposed hours ahead of the meeting.
He added that he and his client are ‘very much concerned’ with the way the premises have been run and that Mr Dang is keen to involve himself locally.
“We are now looking at a completely different operator,” he said. “We are now looking at somebody who’s going to come in, give a better shape to the area and give a better understanding and give a better way to the local community.”
Mr Dang also spoke on the extent of the training his staff undertake and the measures in place to ensure alcohol is not to be sold to young people.
Residents however said their concerns regarding the potential knock-on of the licence being granted remained, despite Mr Dang’s credentials.
Among them was Dominic Hamon, who said, “Mr Dang clearly has a lot of experience, and I don’t have any reason to doubt they would come in and do a fantastic job, but I think the concerns that have been raised around the licensing specifically aren’t tackled by new management coming in.”
Following deliberation, councillors approved the licence with the amended hours. Conditions were also attached including ensuring a telephone number for the premises is visible to members of the public wanting to file complaints.
Ben Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter