Elmbridge licensing sub-committee refused alcohol licence for Walton-on-Thames convenience store after applicant did not turn up

• Elmbridge's Licensing Sub-Committee refused a premises licence application for Cloud Town, a proposed convenience store with off-licence on Walton-on-Thames High Street, at a hearing on 30 June 2026.
• The applicant failed to attend the hearing; his representative Mr Daniel Domican was unable to answer questions about key licensing requirements including the Challenge 25 scheme and the obligation to keep a refusals log.
• The application had been revised ahead of the hearing to reduce proposed alcohol sales and opening hours from 24-hour trading to 07:00–23:00, but two resident objections remained outstanding.
• A local resident told the sub-committee she was concerned about violence against women and girls, and said 07:00 was too early to sell alcohol given the route to a nearby school.
• The full Licensing Committee meets on 21 September 2026 and will also consider recommending Council adoption of a revised Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy to run from January 2027 to December 2029.

A licensing sub-committee refused an application for a premises licence at Cloud Town, Unit 4 Wellington House, 60 High Street, Walton-on-Thames, citing an inability to assess the applicant's understanding of licensing requirements after he failed to attend the hearing.

The Licensing Sub-Committee of Elmbridge Borough Council, meeting on 30 June 2026, heard that the applicant had proposed to operate the site as a small European supermarket with an off-licence, recently published minutes show.

The original application sought permission to sell alcohol for off-premises consumption between 06:00 and 02:00 daily, with 24-hour opening seven days a week.

Following representations from Surrey Police and two local residents, the applicant revised the proposal to restrict both opening hours and alcohol sales to 07:00 to 23:00, and offered three additional conditions: CCTV coverage of the rear exit; a prohibition on customers bringing open alcoholic drink containers into the premises; and permanent display of the current Walton-on-Thames Public Spaces Protection Order.

Despite Surrey Police subsequently withdrawing their representation — without providing reasons — the two resident objections remained outstanding, and the application was brought before the sub-committee for determination.

The applicant was represented by Mr Daniel Domican, who described him as a responsible local businessperson already known to the community through a nearby barber shop and who had previously assisted police by providing CCTV footage following incidents on Walton High Street.

Mr Domican confirmed he had no operational role in the proposed convenience store, his involvement being limited to card payment and banking services.

The sub-committee's chair, Councillor Alistair Mann, repeatedly noted the difficulty of assessing the application without the applicant present. He explained that the sub-committee would ordinarily put detailed questions to an applicant about the Challenge 25 scheme, refusals procedures and how licensing policies would be managed in practice.

When the chair raised the requirement to maintain a refusals log, Mr Domican said he was unaware of it — an exchange the chair said illustrated the panel's inability to obtain adequate reassurance about how the premises would be operated.

A local resident, Mrs Hilary Jones, addressed the panel in support of her written representation. She expressed concern about the potential impact of additional alcohol availability on violence against women and girls in the area.

She told the sub-committee that 07:00 was too early to begin selling alcohol, given the proximity of the premises to a route used by children attending Ashley School and to other vulnerable people and facilities nearby. She also emphasised the importance of requiring a minimum of two staff on duty after 23:00 if the premises were permitted to trade until that time.

Mr Domican, responding, acknowledged the concerns but argued that alcohol was already available from nearby premises and public houses, and that the applicant was willing to accept further conditions or adjust hours if required.

After withdrawing to deliberate, the sub-committee refused the application. Full reasons were set out in a decision notice circulated to all parties within five working days. The applicant was informed of the right to appeal.

The minutes of the sub-committee's meeting are among the items due to be noted by the full Licensing Committee when it meets on 21 September 2026.

The committee will also consider recommending that full Council adopts a revised Statement of Licensing Policy under the Gambling Act 2005, to take effect from 1 January 2027 when the current policy expires.

The draft policy, which incorporates minor amendments following an eight-week public consultation, is to be put to Council on 30 September 2026. Members will also note the appointment of Councillor Tony Popham to the Licensing Committee following the death of Councillor Peter Harman.