Neighbours say they are “delighted” that a restaurant in their area has been granted a late night alcohol licence.

Marmelo Kitchen in Francis Road, Leyton, will sell alcohol at its new premises around the corner in Murchison Road.

A petition signed by 24 neighbours was submitted to Waltham Forest Council claiming the licence would mean further drunken behaviour in the residential area.

Rachael Ferguson, who lives in Albert Road around the corner from the restaurant, said Marmelo does not attract troublesome clientele.

She said: “I don’t believe it will be attracting drunkards because the people who drink on our street corner are not Marmelo clientele.

“I would be concerned if somebody opened up a drinking establishment but that is not what this is.

“I see young families eating at Marmelo all the time.

“Marmelo is run by local people and they are very popular. I am delighted for them.”

The restaurant applied to sell alcohol from 8am until 11pm from Sunday to Saturday.

The licence granted by Waltham Forest Council’s licensing sub-committee will allow them to serve alcohol from 9am to 9.30pm Sunday to Wednesday and from 9am to 10.30pm from Thursday to Sunday.

Miss Ferguson said she would have preferred the licence to extend longer into the night.

She said: “I am a bit disappointed to be honest because it is just a suppression of business in the area.

“Leyton is an up and coming area and when our new neighbours moved in we invited them to go to Marmelo to welcome them to the area.

“If people come home a bit late they can grab something to eat and chill out with a drink.”

Adrian Phillips, from Murchison Road off Francis Road, signed a petition in favour of the licence, which gained over 800 signatures.

He said: “It is a much needed facility of entertainment and investment and it is great for the area.

“I don’t think it is the type of business that is attracting drunken behaviour.

“There is a pub down the road so people drink there.”

Ahmed Vania, who lives in Murchison Road, near the restaurant, launched a petition against the plans.

In a letter to Waltham Forest Council’s licensing sub-committee, he said:  “The nature of the business will bring further disruption to the area, with more parking constraints, people drinking on the street, glasses and bottles left on the street, late night music, noise during closing time and not to mention the anti-social nature that excessive alcohol usage does have.

“There is also an open space adjacent to the premises which is regularly used by passersby as a toilet.”

Marmelo Kitchen did not respond to the Guardian’s request for a comment.