1 week Ago
Rupert & Teddy will be located on Horseferry Road and will serve European and British artisan deli products and home cooked food for people to takeaway. Run by director Laura Schinider with her partner James Lambert, named in memory of Laura’s two dogs, Rupert & Teddy is expected to open in mid-April. James Lambert told the News Shopper that his aim is to create a "pleasant riverside setting where locals and visitors can enjoy socialising and purchasing treats".
The business recently applied for a licence to sell alcohol at the premisses which was approved under a list of requirements at a Greenwich Council committee meeting on March 12. James explained: "We are delighted that the committee has granted our license, despite some understandable objections from local councillors. “Our aim is to create a pleasant riverside setting where locals and visitors can enjoy socializing in our restaurant and purchasing treats from our delicatessen.
“We are pleased the council agrees this will be a valuable addition to the Greenwich community.” The business originally applied for a licence to serve alcohol both on and off-site between 7am and 11pm. Prior to the meeting, Councillor Calum O'Byrne Mulligan emailed concerns to Greenwich Council that this might be problematic due to the site being within close proximity of the basketball court next to Page House, which he described as a “well-known site for antisocial behaviour.
” Councillor Mulligan added: “There is regularly anti-social public drinking on this part of the Thames Path as well. “I am therefore concerned that if the licensee is able to serve alcohol off premises that it may further contribute to crime and disorder in the area.” The email further went on to outline proposals to limit the alcohol sales to after 12pm to “mitigate” such risks.
The business agreed to amend the hours that they would supply alcohol to between 10am and 7pm Monday to Sunday, as well as reducing hours for music to between 10am and 7pm. Concerns were also raised by the property landlords L&Q, who objected to the licence application with concerns that the selling of alcohol at the premises would be a “nuisance” to tenants in the upstairs part of the building. New Business Manager, Development & Sales (Growth) of L&Q Tom Rigby said: “We would object on the grounds of nuisance to our residents who live above the commercial property concerned.
“We have already had concerns noted from some who have seen the notice.” However, James told the council that he felt that L&Q did not speak on behalf of the residents, and that concerns had only been raised by one resident which had since been rescinded. In a speech during the meeting, James explained: “We have not had any complaints or objections to the licence from any residents that live upstairs.
“There was one which has since been rescinded.” L&Q did not respond to our request for comment. During the meeting, James also added that the business would be selling high-end products, as opposed to cheaper supermarket alcohol, therefore he didn’t feel that the business would cause crime and disorder.
James said: “It's not the kind of place that's going to attract people to come to buy alcohol to drink on the street outside the shop. “That's not the kind of market that we're going for.” James also added that he was “well known” in the area for managing pubs such as The Crown, and added that this business would be run “responsibly”.
The business agreed to adhere to the ‘Ask for Angela’ scheme, with staff to receive welfare training to help support any customers who may feel vulnerable. Councillor Majella Anning also raised questions regarding the type of containers alcohol would be sold in to take away. However, James said that the business didn’t have “any intention” of selling open container alcohol.
He added: “We will be selling food to take away, but it's aimed at the local people that live in the flats nearby to pick up their food on the way home from work. “It's not to come and buy something to then go sit on a bench and eat.” A decision was made to grant the application by a unanimous vote, providing that certain conditions were met.
It was also felt that the business would be likely to improve the area, and also accepted that the business would operate to the ethos discussed during the meeting. The licence was approved under 13 conditions relating to safety and security, with the business required to always have a personal licence holder on site as well as the installation of a CCTV system. Other conditions included providing specific staff training for staff, as well as having certain protocols in place like a refusal book and log book.
Works are already underway at the site of Rupert & Teddy, according to a recent post on the business’ Instagram page..
