A former Arsenal football shop will be transformed into an express store for a supermarket giant.
The Gooners’ shop in Station Place, next to Finsbury Park bus, tube and overground train stations, did not reopen after the pandemic.
Islington Council’s licensing committee granted supermarket Asda permission on Tuesday to sell alcohol at an Asda Express store between 8am and 11pm, with opening hours from 7am to midnight.
Initially it had asked to open and sell alcohol from 6am to midnight.
Ward councillor Gary Heather raised objections and wrote to the licensing committee pointing out that “this area has a history of vulnerable people frequenting it who are homeless, drug users, perpetrators of drug crime and other crime such as robbery, ASB [anti-social behaviour].”
He also wanted assurances about public safety, as the shop will be at major transport hub used by football fans of different clubs on their way to Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
Site of Arsenal shop Station Place, Finsbury Park. Google Street View July 2022
It is also close to the park, which is a popular venue for concerts and other big events.
Several black cab drivers who collect fares at the station wrote to the committee with concerns that selling cheap alcohol in the area would harm the area, saying there are a lot of drug users in this area and near the busy station.
One unnamed resident raised concerns that people would be able to buy cheap alcohol and might stay in the area, causing crime to rise.
Site of Arsenal shop Station Place, Finsbury Park. Google Street View July 2022
Asda’s lawyer Richard Taylor said the shop will not sell beer, lager or cider with a high alcohol content or individual miniatures.
Customers will not be able to buy alcohol four hours before the start of any large event at Finsbury Park, unless it is part of a normal food shop. There will be a similar ban on alcohol sales an hour after the event.
Mr Taylor said there would also be “adequate levels of staff and security”. The company will do its own risk assessments on the number of door supervisors and security staff needed and take advice from the police.
Other measures include CCTV and a Challenge 25 policy. The company will work “to eliminate or minimise any nuisance arising out of its licensable activities”.
The premier league team has other shops at the stadium and in Drayton Park, Highbury.
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