Inkd Ltd Files Premises Licence for Great Portland Street, Fitzrovia West 2026

Key Points

• Licence Applicant: Inkd Ltd has submitted an application to Westminster Council for a new premises licence.
• Location: The application covers the basement and ground floor of 85 Great Portland Street, situated in the Fitzrovia West area of London.
• Proposed Hours: The company seeks permission to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises from 08:00 to 19:00, Monday to Friday, and from 10:00 to 18:00 on Saturdays and Sundays.
• Business Model: Inkd operates as a specialised off-licence offering a personalised bottle service, enabling customers to select custom covers for a variety of alcoholic beverages.
• Operational Restrictions: According to the application, all off-sales will be distributed in sealed bottles only, with no members of the public allowed to attend the premises.
• Ordering Channels: Orders will be strictly processed remotely via online platforms, telephone, or email, meaning the physical location will function as an office rather than a public retail shop.
• Public Advertisement: The applicant has stated there will be no advertising of the alcohol off-sales immediately outside the building to maintain its low-profile office environment.
• Compliance Measures: A series of operating conditions has been formally offered by Inkd Ltd to support the application and address potential municipal licensing objectives.

Fitzrovia West (Extra London News) May 16, 2026 – A new premises licence application has been submitted by Inkd Ltd to Westminster Council, seeking authorisation for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises at the basement and ground floor of 85 Great Portland Street. The proposed venture, located within the Fitzrovia West district, aims to operate primarily as an administrative and distribution hub rather than a traditional walk-in retail establishment. According to the official application paperwork filed with the local authority, the business model focuses entirely on a remote, bespoke beverage service.

Under the terms of the requested licence, Inkd Ltd intends to facilitate the sale of alcohol during carefully defined operational windows throughout the week. The applicant has requested permitted hours spanning from 08:00 to 19:00, Monday to Friday, alongside slightly condensed weekend hours from 10:00 to 18:00 on both Saturdays and Sundays. Local council documents indicate that the application has entered its statutory consultation phase, during which residents, business owners, and responsible authorities—including the Metropolitan Police and environmental health officers—can submit formal representations regarding the proposal.

What Is the Business Model Proposed by Inkd Ltd at 85 Great Portland Street?

As outlined in the official public notice published via Westminster Council’s licensing portal, Inkd Ltd is described as a highly specialised off-licence. The core commercial offering centres on a bespoke consumer experience where patrons can customise their purchases. As stated within the explicit text of the application submitted to the council,

“Inkd is an off licence offering a personalised bottle service where customers can choose personalised covers on a selection of alcoholic beverages.”

This customisation framework allows corporate and private clients to order premium spirits, wines, or other alcoholic beverages wrapped in tailored, bespoke artistry or branding elements. Because the business is geared toward gifting, events, and high-end e-commerce, the physical infrastructure required deviates significantly from a standard high-street off-licence.

Will members of the public be allowed to visit the premises?

A critical element of the application focuses on mitigating potential foot traffic and public nuisance within the Fitzrovia West neighbourhood. To reassure regulatory bodies and nearby property owners, the operational statement embedded within the application strictly limits physical interaction with the public. The document explicitly clarifies:

“All off sales are in sealed bottles only. No members of the public attend the premises.”

Consequently, the site will not feature a traditional retail counter, browsing aisles, or cash registers accessible to passersby.

The interior space on Great Portland Street will instead be configured to handle the logistical aspects of the business, such as the application of the custom bottle covers, packaging, and the processing of outbound deliveries.

What platforms will customers use to place orders with Inkd Ltd?

Because the premises will remain closed to walk-in foot traffic, the entire revenue stream relies on remote communication channels. In the formal text detailing the everyday mechanics of the business, the applicant confirmed:

“The sales are obtained online or by phone or email.”

By moving the point of purchase entirely to digital and telephonic mediums, Inkd Ltd aims to operate effectively as an e-commerce fulfillment office.

This operational structure mirrors modern direct-to-consumer logistics models, keeping the commercial transaction completely separate from the physical streetscape of Great Portland Street.

Why does the applicant classify the property as an office rather than a shop?

To maintain the visual and social character of the immediate area, the proprietors have designed an external presence that does not draw attention to the alcohol stored or packaged inside.

The application outlines a strict policy regarding external marketing to ensure the building blends seamlessly with surrounding commercial offices.

The submission states:

“There will also not be any advertising of the ‘off’ sales of alcohol immediately outside the premises, so the premises is an office and not a shop.”

By omitting window displays, neon signage, or promotional branding typical of alcohol retailers, the company intends to maintain a discreet, corporate facade that aligns with the mixed-use professional environment of Westminster.

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What steps are being taken to prevent public nuisance and crime?

Under the Licensing Act 2003, any operator applying for a new premises licence must demonstrate a thorough commitment to upholding the four core licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. To satisfy Westminster Council’s stringent criteria, Inkd Ltd has volunteered a comprehensive schedule of conditions that will become legally binding if the licence is granted.

How will age verification be managed for remote alcohol sales?

As part of the statutory review process, Westminster Council’s licensing committee closely scrutinises how remote alcohol delivery operators prevent underage sales.

While the specific text of the initial application summary focuses on the physical site limitations, standard municipal protocols dictate that remote off-licences must implement rigorous age-verification systems.

These typically include mandatory “Challenge 25”

checks at both the digital point of sale—where software verifies the buyer’s age via credit card or electoral roll data—and at the final point of delivery. Courier services tasked with transporting the sealed bottles will require couriers to verify the identity and age of the recipient before handing over any goods, ensuring complete compliance with regional safeguarding laws.

What Do Local Media and Journalists Report About the Application?

The application has drawn analytical attention from local independent media outlets that monitor urban planning and commercial shifts within the West End. Reporting extensively on the borough’s commercial landscape, senior editorial staff at The Fitzrovia News have highlighted how this application reflects a broader trend of e-commerce businesses occupying traditional brick-and-mortar spaces in central London.

As reported by the editorial committee of The Fitzrovia News, the submission by Inkd Ltd represents a distinct category of licensing request because it strips away the traditional public-facing elements of a retail off-licence, substituting them with a closed-door corporate infrastructure.

The publication notes that the Fitzrovia West area has seen an influx of digital-first businesses seeking premium addresses for logistical credibility while keeping their consumer interactions purely virtual.

Who can submit representations to Westminster Council regarding this case?

The regulatory framework enforced by Westminster Council ensures that any stakeholders affected by the proposed licence have a voice in the proceedings. As detailed by administrative compliance reporters tracking Westminster municipal filings, the application is open to formal representations from any “interested party,” which includes local residents, resident associations, ward councillors, and business owners operating within the immediate vicinity of 85 Great Portland Street.