NOTE: Harris + Hoole has withdrawn their application.
Coffee shop Harris & Hoole angers Twickenham residents by applying for booze licence
The “independent” coffee shop chain part owned by Tesco has angered local residents and police in Twickenham by applying for a licence to serve beer and wine.
The St Margarets Road branch of Harris & Hoole, in which Tesco has a 49 per cent stake, is seeking permission from Richmond Upon Thames council for the right to sell alcohol seven days a week from 11am to 10pm.
But Mark Halton of the borough’s police licensing team, has objected to the application on the grounds that it will “attract street drinkers to the area and this will cause an increase in anti-social behaviour.”
Mr Halton said that if street drinkers could buy alcohol from late morning “it will cause them to congregate on street benches” close to St Stephens Church of England Junior School.
“This will increase the likelihood of children witnessing drunkeness and urinating in the street,” he said.
Mr Halton also revealed he had not been able to speak to management at Harris + Hoole to discuss his concerns because there is no phone number on the application.
– from London Evening Standard - 10 September 2013
Comments
Does anyone really imagine that the (mythical?) winos of St Margarets can't already get cheaper cider and lager from the local shops than would be available at a coffee shop? Assuming they are even applying for/intending to make off-sales. Pathetic.
David on 2013-09-11 11:05:13 +0000Isn't the Turks Head slightly closer than the coffee shop ?? Also you can buy booze from Tesco it's self from 11am why havent these mysterious Winos appeared before now !!! I for one have NEVER seen anyone urinating in the streets of St Margarets . This objection seems ludicrous .
Emma Balfe on 2013-09-11 18:38:01 +0000Whatever your opinion of Harris + Hoole selling alcohol, they've just scrapped their application to sell alcohol.
Harry Jacobs on 2013-09-11 20:33:35 +0000It's like there's a St.Margarets anti H+H mafia campaign. But walk past and is H+H empty? Is Tesco closing down due to the lack of business?
Plenty of off-licence outlets withing 200 yards, 2 pubs and several cafes serving wine already, amazing the area has not gone to pot already!
Ed on 2013-09-11 22:11:46 +0000What kind of policeman can't look up their phone number online or with directory enquiries. This whole anti h&h campaign is just ridiculous.
Carly Weston on 2013-09-12 22:09:27 +0000So H&H have been intimidated into withdrawing their application. Well done the St Margarets moral majority; Western civilisation is saved and it's once again safe to walk the mean streets of Bridge Road.
Sigh.
David on 2013-09-13 08:20:39 +0000It's a cafe, why does it need to be able to sell alcohol from 11am?
Peter Wilson on 2013-09-13 09:17:06 +0000More on the application withdrawal - www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/10671756.Harris_and_Hoole_withdraws_booze_application
Peter @ stmgrts.org.uk on 2013-09-13 11:11:18 +0000Add a comment