Taco Bell wants to serve eat-in customers until 2.30am at its branch in London Road but Sussex Police and Brighton and Hove City Council have objected, saying that the area is a crime hotspot.
The franchise, owned by Karali QSR Limited, the country’s largest Taco Bell operator, wants to allow customers to eat in at the Brighton branch until 2.30am daily, followed by a 30-minute dispersal period during which it could sell takeaway customers.
Sussex Police cited concerns about crime, saying that 496 incidents were reported within 650ft (200 metres) of the branch over a year, including violence, anti-social behaviour, public order offences and criminal damage.
There are seven other nearby businesses with late-night licences and three of those operate after midnight.
KFC, almost opposite, trades as a takeaway and delivery-only operator from 12.30am to 3am. Dominos has a “walk-in” service until 1am and offers deliveries until 4am. And Brighton Chicken and Pizza is open until 2am during the week and 4am at weekends.
Sussex Police said that Karali was not applying to sell alcohol but the force still had concerns about people being drawn to the area which has homes above the shops.
Should the panel of three councillors decide to grant the licence at a hearing which is due to take place on Monday 2 November, police want at least one member of door staff at the premises from midnight until close.
And at all times, the business would need to have back up from a mobile support unit accredited by the Brighton Crime Reduction Partnership.
An anonymous police sergeant, whose name has been redacted by the council, said: “If the venue is to stay open late for access to the public, we feel it is appropriate that they ensure they have the safeguarding in place to assist in reducing risks associated with these later hours … (to) enable them to deal with low-level issues before they escalate and need to call upon police.
“They also go some way to promote safety for customers and staff within the venue.”
The council’s licensing team has also objected to the application because the council’s licensing policy is for no new late-night takeaways to operate in the London Road area after midnight or for deliveries beyond 2am.
Currently, the business has a late-night refreshment licence to serve food and soft drinks, including hot drinks, to customers sitting in or for takeaway until midnight and for deliveries only until 3am.
The application said: “The applicant understands that permitting customers to remain and consume their food within the premises may provide a safer more controlled environment than requiring every customer to leave immediately with a takeaway.
“While customers are inside the premises, their conduct can be monitored and managed by the applicant’s staff and security personnel.
“The applicant’s principal objective remains to permit takeaway sales until 3am. The proposal therefore provides customers with the choice of dining within the premises until 2.30am or purchasing food to take away until 3am.”
The council’s licensing panel hearing is due to take place at 10am on Monday 2 November and is scheduled to be webcast.
