City of Wolverhampton Council’s licensing committee has approved the opening of a new off-licence in Bilston, despite objections from the nearby Robin 2 music venue, which raised concerns about potential increases in street drinking and antisocial behaviour.
Kulwinder Singh was granted a licence to sell alcohol from the Daily Stop and Off Licence, located on Mount Pleasant in Bilston, in a unit formerly used as a printing shop. The venue is adjacent to the Robin 2, a well-known local music centre that argued the new shop could exacerbate existing problems in the town centre.
During the licensing hearing on October 2, Jack Heffernan from the Robin 2 voiced his worries, describing the decision to allow another late-night off-licence as a “bad look” that could undermine the council’s ongoing £20 million programme to improve Bilston.
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Heffernan explained, “There are already many cheap drinking establishments in and around Bilston. We often see patrons arriving at our shows having consumed excessive amounts of alcohol, which not only puts their safety at risk but also endangers our staff and the local community. Bilston is a hotspot for drink-related crime and antisocial behaviour, and running a late-night live music venue means we experience these issues firsthand. We believe this off-licence will aggravate the situation.”
Representing the shop’s owners, Nick Semper stated that no concrete evidence had been presented to support the concerns or objections raised.
While approving the licence, the committee reduced the permitted alcohol sale hours from the requested 7am to 11pm down to 9am to 10pm. Bilston North Councillor Linda Leach had previously expressed worries that extended opening times might contribute to increased crime and antisocial behaviour in the area.
The licensing report notes that the Bilston North ward already contains around 40 licensed premises. Initial objections from the council’s licensing department and public health officers were withdrawn after the applicant agreed to conditions, including a ban on the sale of high-strength alcohol.
The application included a statement highlighting plans to modernise the previously vacant premises with significant investment. The applicant emphasised their experience in operating retail convenience stores and their commitment to serving customers responsibly. The proposal outlined modest alcohol sale hours and described the shop as offering a full range of general food and household products in line with standard operating times.
The council’s licensing committee judged that existing problems in Bilston could not be attributed to the new off-licence, as it had not yet opened.