The bakery chain Greggs is to appeal against a ban preventing a central London outlet from selling hot food through the night after police claimed it could lead to a spike in crime and disorder.
The company was last summer refused an overnight licence to open its store in Leicester Square between between 11pm and 5am amid claims it could become a “hotspot for late-night disturbances and antisocial behaviour”.
The row will be reheated in a three-day appeal hearing at Westminster magistrates court from 16 May. The council’s licensing committee said Greggs “would need to try to convince the court that their evidence provides exceptional reasons for allowing the premises to operate until 5am” in the busy area, which contains numerous bars and restaurants.
It is understood that Greggs, which currently operates its Leicester Square outlet from 6am to 11pm, wants to extend its operating hours as nearby competitors including McDonald’s are able to sell hot food into the early hours.
Greggs’ application for late-night trading was blocked by Westminster council after the Metropolitan police said fast food premises operating after 11pm attracted those who had been drinking in pubs and bars nearby, with “the likely effect of an increase in crime and disorder in the area and an increased demand on police resources which are already stretched”.
Police said the fact that the outlet did not have seating would add to problems with dispersing crowds from around Leicester Square’s gardens.
Greggs does not need a licence to sell its trademark sausage rolls and other bakes as they are made elsewhere and not kept hot in store.
However, it needs special permission from the local authority to sell hot food and drink including bacon baps, sausage breakfast rolls and potato wedges, as well as tea and coffee, between 11pm and 5am.
Greggs said customers could be confused if its full menu was not available to them all evening and this would be more likely to cause trouble.
It suggested that its main customers in the early hours were likely to be shift workers and emergency staff, and having deadlines on the purchase of certain products might only encourage loitering.
It also offered to provide CCTV, security, and litter control outside its premises.
