A new application for a late-night off-licence in Richmond town centre has seen strong opposition from local residents and community groups, who fear it could fuel antisocial behaviour and harm the character of the high street.

GRAB & GO, located at 57–58 George Street, is seeking permission to sell alcohol for off-premises consumption, with proposed operating hours extending to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The application, submitted by Mr Amjeet Singh Dang, is currently under review by Richmond Council and is due to be considered by the Licensing Sub-Committee on Monday, 4 August at 10.30am.

If approved, the premises would be licensed to sell alcohol during the following hours:

• Monday to Thursday: 8am – Midnight
• Friday & Saturday: 8am – 1am
• Sunday: 10am – 11pm

The proposed opening hours match the licensing times, suggesting the off-licence could serve late-night visitors to the town centre.

However, eight formal objections have been lodged with the Council, raising concerns about potential street drinking, littering, and disruption to the community.

The shop's proposed floor layout (credit: Licensing application).

Maria Maher, a local resident, warned: "The introduction of this off licence would significantly lower the tone of the high street, which is already struggling with maintaining a welcoming and family-friendly atmosphere.

"This new off licence would likely make alcohol available at lower prices, encouraging people—especially young adults—to purchase drinks cheaply and consume them openly on the street or in nearby green spaces."

Another objector, Claude Schmitt, echoed concerns about the proposal's potential to increase public nuisance: "Richmond already experiences noticeable disruption on weekend evenings, including antisocial behaviour linked to alcohol consumption.

"The town centre and particularly the Green is frequently littered with alcohol bottles on Saturday and Sunday mornings. A new outlet offering off-licence alcohol sales until 1am risks exacerbating these issues."

While some residents were not opposed to off-licence sales in general, they expressed concern about the late-night hours.

John Alexander said: "If the applicant wishes to adjust the hours of off-premises sales to something more like 12:00pm to 9:00pm, then I would have much less opposition.

"As that is not currently the case, I must oppose this application."

Both the Richmond Society and the Friends of Richmond Green (FoRG) have formally objected to the plans.

The Richmond Society, which represents over 1,000 members, emphasised the shop's location within a Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ).

This means the applicant must demonstrate that the proposed licence will not worsen issues such as late-night noise, disorder or crime.

The Society said the application fails to address these concerns adequately and appears to offer only "copy and paste" policies to key licensing objectives.

It also criticised the lack of police consultation and expressed concern about the potential for increased public disturbances, especially around Richmond Green.

FoRG highlighted ongoing challenges in the area, including alcohol-related crime, a shortage of police resources, insufficient late-night public transport, and a lack of public toilets, which together contribute to an unsafe environment during the night-time economy.

Both groups argue that the proposal would place additional strain on local services and disproportionately affect residents, especially given the close proximity of housing to the town centre.

Richmond Council's Licensing Sub-Committee will consider the application and objections before making a decision on whether to approve or reject the licence.

To read the full application click here.

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