Millwall Café granted alcohol licence despite objections

Lewisham Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee D has granted the Millwall Café permission to sell alcohol. The decision, made on 27 October 2026, allows for sales between 10 am and 11 pm every day. The café, situated directly opposite Millwall Football Club’s stadium, The Den, faced objections from the Metropolitan Police and Millwall Football Club.

Conditions for Match Days

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For all Millwall home matches, three additional conditions have been imposed on the licence. These include the requirement for at least one SIA-registered door supervisor to be present from two hours before kick-off until supporters have dispersed after the match. Additionally, six-foot Heras fencing must be erected around the café’s outdoor seating area to create a secure zone. Alcohol sales will also be prohibited during the 60 minutes immediately before and after kick-off.

The committee stated that these conditions were deemed appropriate and proportionate to prevent crime and disorder. The decision followed a hearing where the café’s representative, Suresh Kanapathi of Arka Licensing Consultants, argued that alcohol sales would foster a safer environment for customers. Kanapathi suggested that customers already bring their own alcohol, and the café could instead offer drinks in plastic cups, reducing the risk of glass bottles.

Objections and Counterarguments

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James Rankin, representing the Metropolitan Police, challenged the applicant’s claims, highlighting the extensive experience of police officers in managing football crowds. Rankin noted the combined decades of experience held by dedicated police officers and match commanders compared to the café’s four years of operation. He emphasised that the hour before kick-off represented the highest risk period for crowd management and stated that police resources should not be diverted to manage the café’s alcohol sales during wider stadium operations.

Kanapathi countered that the objections were generic and lacked specific evidence or a risk assessment pertaining to the café itself. He argued that the application should be assessed on its individual merits rather than being influenced by commercial interests. The committee ultimately decided to grant the licence with the stipulated conditions.