Greggs has finally reached an agreement with Westminster City Council which sees the Newcastle-based bakery extend its trading hours at its Leicester Square store. That means you can now scoff sausage rolls and bean bakes into the early hours of morning should you so wish.
Greggs has been battling with the council over its opening hours since the day it opened last year. The bakery originally applied for a 24-hour license, but it was blocked by the council and the Met Police over fears it would cause anti-social behaviour to break out in Leicester Square.
While the branch is still not allowed to stay open for 24 hours a day, Greggs has been given permission to trade until 2am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and until 12pm from Sundays to Wednesdays.
Westminster City Council said it is an agreement that ‘works for everyone’, despite it originally refusing Greggs’ request to extend its trading hours.
The new agreement allows Greggs to sell hot drinks and a selection of hot food that has been left to cool, including its sausage rolls and bakes. However, it cannot serve hot food that needs to be kept hot, like bacon baps, chicken goujons and potato wedges. Further stipulations for the new hours include increased CCTV and the use of door supervisors.
Councillor Aicha Less, deputy leader of Westminster City Council, said: ‘Greggs had originally applied for a licence in Leicester Square to sell hot food and hot drinks for 24 hours, Mondays to Sundays. This was refused by Westminster's licensing sub-committee and Greggs appealed that decision.
‘Based on the merits of this case, Westminster have come to an agreement with Greggs that works for everyone. We are pleased to continue to support local businesses and look forward to working with the company going forward.’
Other competitors in the area, including McDonald’s, are also able to sell food into the early hours of the morning.
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