Situated in a former wine merchant, the new store will be open between 7am and 11pm, reports Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter

The off-licence will replace Theatre of Wine which shut earlier this year, Credit: Google Streetview

A new off-licence in Leytonstone has been given the go-ahead to open by Waltham Forest Council.

Food & Wines (Islington) Ltd was granted an alcohol licence for a shop in High Road at a committee meeting today (14th).

Situated in a former wine merchant, the new store will be open between 7am and 11pm.

A rival business had objected to the store opening over concerns about antisocial behaviour and disruption.

The owners of the nearby International Food Store said that while there was no preexisting issue with public nuisance, two off-licences side by side “increases the risk of antisocial behaviour, street drinking, and disturbances, particularly in the evenings”.

It would also be difficult to “trace who is responsible” for any drunken incidents, they told the committee, made up of three elected Labour councillors.

In their formal objection, they added: “While I appreciate competition, the council also has a duty to consider the balance of licensed premises in one area.

“Two off-licences operating next door to each other is not in the best interest of the local community.”

The operators behind Food & Wines (Islington) run twelve other shops in London, which they told the committee gives them the requisite experience. Their Leytonstone store will be the first in Waltham Forest.

They told the committee they would “work together” with the police, local authorities, their neighbours and fellow business owners to “make it a safer place”.

In a lengthy application form submitted to the council earlier this year, they said staff would prevent customers drinking on the premises and from loitering around the shop.

On the advice of the Metropolitan Police’s licensing department, they will also keep a refusals log and ask anyone they think is under 25 for ID.

There will also be three staff members in at all times and a total of 14 CCTV cameras running, the owner added.

After a brief deliberation, the three councillors voted to approve the scheme.

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