Off licence gets a little spiritual help

Published: 3 December, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

THE great and the good from south-east London could be opposing residents from Tufnell Park when the grandly  titled Theatre of Wine applies to open an off licence in Junction Road on Thursday. 

A vicar, headteacher and a councillor from Greenwich, where the specialist outlet already has an established business, have written to Islington Council’s licensing department in support of the application. 

The Greenwich residents are keen to point out that in their borough, the outlet famous for its wine tastings has always been a model of responsibility and respectability. 

Wine tastings are limited to 20 customers who pay between £15 and £45 per head to taste wine from small independent producers.

Residents from Poynings Road have written letters objecting to the outlet opening close to their homes because they are worried that it might attract noise and disturbances.  

One resident wrote: “Within spitting distance of our homes there are already three shops selling alcohol, two eating places where alcohol is available and an existing problem of young people arriving home drunk.”

The Rev Christopher Moody of St Alfege Greenwich writes that he is a regular customer of the off licence and also uses them for catering and social events at the church. 

He said: “We have always found them to be very friendly, obliging and very professional in their knowledge of wine and advice to customers.”