Surbiton newsagent applies for late night licence

Yet another Surbiton newsagent has applied for a licence to sell alcohol.  Martin's newsagent at 2 Victoria Road has applied to Kingston Council for a licence to sell alcohol from 6am to 11pm, seven days a week.

I suppose it is to be expected that Martins follows the lead of other newsagents and starts to sell wines, spirits and beer.  However, it's not a big store and they already to struggle to find space for all their current stock. 

As well as selling alcohol, they will be open much later than they are at the moment.  If they do open as per the hours applied for, they will be open until 11pm every day of the week.  I should think that they will do well as there are always lots of people outside the train station looking for places to buy cigarettes etc late at night.  Surbiton has lost several Off Licences over the years and the one next to the train station should be moving down the opposite end of the high street in a month or so.

Back in August we advised that 1st Stop Ltd had applied for a licence to sell alcohol until midnight from the shop at 9 Central Parade, St Mark's Hill.  They have started to fit the shop out, but works seems to have stalled lately.  As far as we know, they are still planning to open some time soon.

Are you pleased that Surbiton will have another couple of late night shops selling alcohol?  It will be handy, but will it cause problems too?