AFC Lewisham wants to sell booze and keep its clubhouse open later to show matches during this summer’s football tournament
An Eltham-based football club wants to open late and sell booze during the World Cup but neighbours are concerned about noise and anti-social behaviour.
Objectors to the premises licence application fear AFC Lewisham is attempting to operate as a “nightclub” and reported that “low-frequency bass reverberations penetrate nearby homes” when the venue hosts events.
Supporters of the proposal believe the World Cup licence would create “a unique opportunity for community celebration.”
AFC Lewisham—whose home is the Gresham Sports Ground in Eltham Road—has applied to Greenwich Council for a temporary premises licence which will allow it to show World Cup matches, sell alcohol and remain open until 11.30pm. The temporary licence would run from June 11 to July 31, which covers the international football tournament plus an additional 12 days.
AFC Lewisham is also asking to remain open until 15 minutes after the full-time whistle for any matches involving home nations, African countries, or is a quarter-final, semi-final, third place play-off, or the final, when kick off is no later than 11pm.
The grassroots football club can sell alcohol and show football matches on its current premises licence, but only until 9.30pm. When AFC Lewisham sought to extend this to 11pm two years ago, the application received 50 objections from residents and was refused.
Since the September 2024 refusal, Greenwich Council has received 18 complaints about football club events with Temporary Event Notices, most of which related to noise. Council officers visited the venue on multiple occasions and generally reported that there were no problems.
Officers visited on the evening of August 8 last year while a party was taking place. They reported “very faint bass” being heard from Hamlea Close which could not be heard once the DJ was told to turn down the bass frequencies.
Officers were also told by AFC Lewisham staff that acoustic glass had been ordered to reduce noise spillage and they were considering investing in a more sophisticated noise limiter. Officers said it was a “positive and productive visit” and management was clearly taking the noise issue “seriously.”
They also noted that since the acoustic glass was installed in August, complaints had “dropped off markedly”. However, Greenwich Council did acknowledge that the reduction in complaints may also be the result of the venue’s seasonal schedule or “complaint fatigue.”
Speaking in support of the application, AFC Lewisham’s club secretary Josephine Mayendesa said: “Considering England reached the final of the Euros in 2024, this was an incredible occasion and a major achievement for the nation, celebrated widely across the country as a unique and one-off event which brought communities together.
“We recognise that during that event some neighbouring residents experienced a degree of disturbance. However, it is important to explain that this occasion was significantly different from normal trading conditions.
“It was a national sporting final which generated exceptional excitement, an unusual level of engagement and emotion, and a heightened atmosphere both locally and across the country. As such, it is not representative of our normal operations or standard matchday behaviour within the clubhouse.
“As a football club at the heart of the local community, we managed the event responsibly within our premises. In view of the exceptional nature of the occasion, we have since reflected and strengthened our operational approach to ensure greater control at any similar future events.”
Cllr Sandra Bauer, representing residents living nearby Gresham Sports Ground, wants the application to be refused. She raised concerns that the matches would give rise to noise disturbance, anti-social behaviour and parking problems.
The premises licence application has received 26 objections from residents and 10 letters of support. Objectors generally were concerned about noise and the potential actions of late-night revellers in their neighbourhood.
Some objectors raised concerns that the football club is attempting to operate as a “nightclub” in an otherwise quiet residential environment that they say is fundamentally unsuited for late-night entertainment.
Supporters pointed out AFC Lewisham management has already taken proactive steps, such as soundproofing and implementing dispersal policies, to minimise disruption. They said the temporary licence would create a “unique opportunity for community celebration” during the iconic sports event.
One supporter who lives very close to the club said that noise levels from past events had not interfered with their “peaceful enjoyment” of their home.
Greenwich Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee B will be considering the AFC Lewisham application on June 9. The Committee will also discuss an application by Pizza Hut Charlton to extend its opening hours to 1am, a move one resident living opposite the shop said would be “simply antisocial.”
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