A popular dog-friendly restaurant hoping to sell alcohol in Richmond is facing backlash from locals, who are worried antisocial behaviour will keep them awake.

Chelsea Fine Food has applied for a booze licence for a new branch of Megan’s in Richmond, sparking fears it will disturb residents’ sleep.

The booze licence, if granted, would allow Megan’s to sell alcohol at the restaurant and to take away to drink off-site if they order a “substantive meal”.

The plans include a bar and are for 13 Hill Street, close to Richmond Riverside – a popular attraction for residents and visitors wanting to socialise at its busy bars and restaurants.

Megan’s, popular for its bottomless brunch, would sell alcohol at the venue between 9am and 11pm.

However, the area is covered by a Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP), which means there is already a high concentration of licensed venues in the area.

The policy means applications for new premises licences in the area are subject to a strict test relating to crime and disorder, public safety, public nuisance and protecting children from harm.

Those likely to add to existing issues will normally be refused, unless the applicant can show there will be no negative cumulative impact on one or more of the objectives. 

Residents are worried the licence would not meet the requirements of the policy.

One local said the town’s bars and restaurants are already a “magnet” for visitors, particularly in the evening, with many licensed premises already close to each other.

The resident said: “There are residents living in the centre of Richmond and in the surrounds who are exposed to noise and disturbance from people walking along streets and whose sleep is already disturbed late at night.

"The risks from alcohol consumption are especially high along the Richmond Riverside near the Megan’s.”

The possibility of people being able to buy alcohol at the venue to drink elsewhere also raised concern, with the resident saying there is already “excessive” alcohol-related antisocial behaviour in the town.

They added: “There are already seven supermarkets selling alcohol and even though all close before midnight there are still alcohol issues, sometimes through to 3am, as witnessed on the Green.

“Megan’s management would have no control over customers who roam the town and its open spaces after purchasing alcohol.”

While the Richmond Society said it “welcomes well-established businesses such as this to the town”, the group raised concerns the licence would affect crime, disorder and public nuisance.

Writing to Richmond Council, a spokesperson for the society said: “Permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises late at night gives rise to

concerns about the prevention of crime and disorder and public nuisance in a particularly sensitive area of the town. Richmond is a town where residential properties are closely colocated to the town centre.”

Chelsea Fine Food has amended its proposed conditions to suggest people can only be served alcohol or buy it to take away if they order a “substantive meal”. It adds: “The premises will be used primarily as a restaurant.”

The company has also proposed other conditions to the licensing application, including adding signage to the venue asking customers to leave in a “quiet and orderly manner that is respectful to the neighbours” and requiring alcohol for off-site consumption to be sold in sealed containers.

Most Megan’s are situated in London, besides one in St Alban’s, Hertfordshire. There are already branches in Kingston, Surbiton, Clapham and Battersea.

Richmond Council’s licensing committee will hear the application next week.