New Putney Burger King wins late licence until 2am, despite residents’ fears of drunk revellers

By Charlotte Lillywhite, Local Democracy Reporter

A Burger King has won a battle with angry neighbours to open until 2am on its high street.

Residents said they did not understand why such a late licence was needed as they’re already plagued by noisy drunk people hanging outside their homes.

Adil Catering Ltd already dropped the requested opening hours until midnight on Sundays to Thursdays, and 2am on Fridays and Saturdays for the new Burger King in Putney High Street.

Adil Group’s lawyer Chris Rees-Gay told Wandsworth council’s licensing committee on Wednesday that existing problems in the high street were not linked to Burger King.

He said no crime reports or photographs had been submitted to support residents’ claims and that a “comprehensive operating schedule” and robust conditions had been agreed to address concerns – including CCTV and managing waste, noise and deliveries.

Mr Rees-Gay said: “Adil Catering Ltd are a premium operator with extensive training, policies and procedures in place.

“They’ve never had a premises licence reviewed or revoked – we have liaised both with the responsible authorities and with the residents.”

But residents hit out at the plans over fears drunk customers from pubs and bars will stay in the area if Burger King is still open. They said delivery drivers already blocked entrances to their homes, and feared this would get worse.

Alice Pollard said Burger King staying open late could add to existing problems.

She said: “It actually encourages [people from other venues] hanging around, it encourages littering, it is an incredibly busy junction where the premises is.”

Elizabeth Cottrell said: “I just don’t see how on earth we are expected to get enough sleep.

“This is just something that I would like to highlight as I really, really suffer and I’m up early for work, so being open extremely late will really, really affect me personally.”

Mr Rees-Gay said: “We have worked with the residents and indeed the manager has introduced himself and given his point of contact to them all. He is particularly experienced as well and will oversee the premises.”

Pictured top: 42-44 Putney High Street, where Burger King will open (Picture: Charlotte Lillywhite)