A pizza takeaway shop in East Sheen has applied to sell food until 4am on weekends, raising concerns from neighbours and the police.

Ak Pizza London, better known as Caprinos Pizza, currently operates from 11am to 11pm daily.

However, the new proposals would see it open from 11am to 11pm every day for walk-ins, while staying open for deliveries until 1am between Monday and Thursday, and until 3am between Friday and Sunday.

Initially, Caprinos wanted to open until 4am for deliveries during weekends, but this was amended by owner Afnan Khan.

The plans by Khan have been met with concerns from local residents, with some "horrified" that he would want to open so late, potentially increasing nuisance and anti-social behaviour in the area.

One resident said: "I am appalled and horrified that anyone would consider allowing this late-night refreshment licence. What does that even mean? Does it include selling alcohol and food until 3 or 4am?

"This recently opened pizza restaurant is alone amongst and surrounded by residential housing, with flats above and houses in Paynesfield Avenue.

"It would be a terrible noise and odour nuisance to those people living next door."

Another resident commented: "I was horrified to see a notice for an application for a licence to sell refreshments (would this include alcohol?) from 11pm to 3am Monday to Thursday and 11pm to 4am Friday to Sunday at the premises of Caprinos Pizza East Sheen, SW14 8AW, a newly opened establishment in East Sheen.

"The granting of such a licence would create an establishment that would be very out of character with the area, and I object in the strongest possible terms to this application."

Caprinos Pizza currently opens from 11am to 11pm daily (credit: East Sheen Village).

Similarly, Twickenham Met Police Licensing Officer, Joel Clewett, objects to the application as he feels Caprinos' application would not meet licensing objectives.

He explained: "The applicant has proposed a few general responsible measures in the operating schedule, but there are not specific conditions that are likely to help reduce negative impact, nor does it specify measures that show consideration to combat preventing crime and disorder or noise and nuisance.

"The terminal hour for the licensable activity applied for does not give consideration to the residential location of the venue and likely disturbance that could be caused in the middle of the night.

"I have consulted with the local policing team for the area, who are concerned regarding the establishment operating into the early hours of the morning, crime/ASB/nuisance that it could likely attract."

The Met Police offered Khan an alternative operating schedule, which would see the shop open until 2am for deliveries on Friday and Saturday, and only until 1am between Sunday and Thursday.

Khan acknowledged police and residents' concerns but refused to reduce the proposed operating hours.

In a letter to the licensing sub-committee, Khan argued: "Our application is solely to serve hot food during late-night hours.

"We do not sell alcohol, and there are no plans to introduce alcohol sales in the future.

"The purpose of the extended hours is primarily to facilitate delivery orders, as around 30–40% of our total sales occur late at night.

"Extending our hours is therefore essential for our business to remain viable in the local area."

The takeaway opened earlier this year on 11 June, making it the brand's 109th location worldwide.

The licensing sub-committee will consider Caprinos Pizza's application on Thursday, 13 November at 11am.

To read the full agenda for the meeting, click here.

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