Late-night food lovers celebrate as Epsom Grill wins hours extension

# A Victory for Night Owls

Good news for Epsom's late-night food enthusiasts: Epsom Grill has been granted permission to extend its opening hours, giving hungry revellers more time to satisfy their cravings for burgers, kebabs and wraps.

The popular takeaway on Waterloo Road, nestled conveniently between the High Street and Epsom Railway Station, can now serve customers until 3am on weekends, with the closure time extending to 3:30am. Monday to Thursday, the grill will remain open until 1am, while Sunday service will continue until midnight.

From Application to Approval

The journey to these extended hours began with a licensing application in January, which was subsequently approved. The grill originally sought permission to stay open until 4am on weekends, but this was revised to 3am following discussion, with the condition that security door staff must be present until 3:30am.

The decision then moved to the planning committee for confirmation, which proved to be quite the memorable meeting.

A Pythonesque Planning Meeting

The May 28 planning committee meeting was described as having a distinctly Monty Python flavour, with councillors engaging in spirited debate about the proposal. The discussion highlighted some entertaining contrasts in perspective.

Counsellor Robert Leach pointed out the rather ironic nature of noise concerns in an area directly adjacent to Epsom Railway Station, where trains thunder through every few minutes. "Every few minutes 300 tons of metal storms through Epsom station," he noted, questioning why authorities would worry about disturbance from patrons eating burgers when faced with such regular noise.

However, not all councillors shared this view. Councillor Jan Mason expressed concerns about the impact on residents living in nearby flats at Station Approach, suggesting that 3am was too late and that people deserved a decent night's sleep.

A Close Vote

The meeting saw the committee go back and forth, with some members believing the planning decision was merely a formality following the licensing approval, whilst others wanted to reopen the debate entirely. Those opposed to the extension attempted to reject the proposal, but their motion failed by just one vote.

With the rejection motion unsuccessful, the officer recommendation to approve remained as the only option on the table. This ultimately passed, though only after the chair used their deciding vote to break the deadlock.

Councillor James Lawrence advocated for respecting the previous licensing decision, citing case law that requires "really good reason" to overturn a decision already made at the licensing committee.

What This Means for Epsom

For those with a hankering for late-night food, the extended hours represent a genuine win. Whether you're heading home from a night out, working late, or simply struck by a craving at an unusual hour, Epsom Grill will now be there to serve you until the early hours.

The approval demonstrates how community venues can adapt to meet local demand, whilst balancing the needs of everyone in the area.

Source: Victory for hungry late night revellers as Epsom kebab house has hours extended