Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: November 10, 2025

Purpose:

Content: Notification of decision following a Licensing Panel hearing to determine an application for a premises licence under section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003   PREMISES: Hounslow Local Store, Unit 3 44-52 High Street, Hounslow, TW3 1NW(“the Premises”)   APPLICANT: Hounslow Local Store LTD (company number 15843834)   TAKE NOTICE THAT ON 10th November 2025, following a hearing before the Licensing Sub-Committee,  HOUNSLOW COUNCIL, as the Licensing Authority for the Premises   RESOLVED that:   The application for the grant of the premises licence is GRANTED, subject to the conditions and modifications set out below:   1.     The Sub-Committee considered an application for the grant of a premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003.   2.     In summary, the Sub-Committee decided, after taking into account all of the individual circumstances of this case, the relevant legislation and statutory guidance, and the need to promote the four licensing objectives, to grant the application as follows: -   1.      To grant permission for the sale of alcohol for consumption off the Premises ·        Monday to Saturday 11:00 hours to 22:30 ·        Sundays 11:00 hours to 22:00   2.      To set the opening hours of the Premises as follows: ·        Monday to Sunday 08:00 hours to 23:00 hours.    3.      The licence was subject to the further conditions set out below.   1.     The premises shall install and maintain a comprehensive CCTV system as per the minimum requirements of the Hounslow Police Licensing Team. All entry and exit points will be covered, enabling frontal identification of every person entering in any light condition. The CCTV system shall continually record whilst the premises are open for licensable activities and during all times when customers remain on the premises. All recordings shall be stored for a minimum period of 31 days with date and time stamping. Viewing of recordings shall be made available immediately upon the request of the Police or authorised officer throughout the entire 31-day period.   2.     A staff member from the premises who is conversant with the operation of the CCTV system shall be on the premises at all times when the premises are open. This staff member must be able to provide a Police or authorised council officer with copies of recent CCTV images or data with the absolute minimum of delay when requested.   3.     Appropriate signage will be displayed, in a prominent position, informing customers they are being recorded on CCTV.   4.     The premises will not sell any beer, lager, or cider that is equal to or greater than 6% ABV. For the avoidance of doubt, this does not include specialist products from craft or microbreweries or limited edition / seasonal products (e.g. Christmas gift packs), subject to Police and Local Authority discretion.   5.     No sales of single cans of beer, lager, or cider are to be made.   6.     No sales of spirits under 5cl/50ml in quantity (miniatures).   7.     There will be no consumption of alcohol permitted inside the premises.   8.     An incident log shall be kept at the premises and made available on request to an authorised officer of the Hounslow Council or the Police. It must be completed within 24 hours of the incident and will record the following:   ·       all crimes reported to the venue ·       all ejections of patrons ·       any complaints received concerning crime and disorder ·       any incidents of disorder ·       all seizures of drugs or offensive weapons ·       any faults in the CCTV system ·       any visit by a relevant authority or emergency service.   9.     All staff employed at the premises will have their UK right to work status checked. Once they pass that stage, they shall be offered employment, and UK right to work documents shall be kept at the premises of all staff and updated on a regular basis.   10. All goods, including those subject to duty payments, for instance, alcohol and tobacco products, will be brought from a cash and carry only; invoices will be available upon request. All alcohol will be purchased from AWRS-registered cash & carry or wholesalers.   11. Notice will be displayed asking customers to leave quietly from the premises. Also, customers will be told in person to leave quietly and not to disturb the local neighbourhood.   12. A strict policy will be in place to tell all staff not to serve alcohol to those who appear to be intoxicated.   13. Appropriate signage will be displayed in a prominent position informing customers they are being recorded on CCTV.      14. A challenge 25 policy will be in force, where any person looking under the age of 25 shall be asked to prove their age when attempting to purchase alcohol and signs to this effect will be displayed at the premises. Challenge 25 posters are displayed where alcohol is sold.   15. The only acceptable ID will be those with photographic identification documents, including passport, photo-card, driving license or proof of age card bearing the PASS hologram.   16. A refusal book shall be kept at the premises and updated as and when required, and made available for inspection on request to a Licensing Officer, Police or other responsible authority.   17. All staff to be trained in responsible alcohol retailing.   4.     In attendance at the Sub-Committee hearing were Mr Singh, Ms Amora, the director, and its legal representative, Ms Kaur.  There were no objectors at the hearing.   5.     The Sub-Committee heard from the Licensing Officer, who presented her report. She advised that the application had been properly made and that all relevant statutory procedures had been complied with. Consultation had been carried out in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003, and the application was attached as Appendix A to the report.   6.     It was confirmed that the Premises were located within an area of mixed commercial and residential properties and are located within the Cumulative Impact Policy (CIP) area for Hounslow and North West Isleworth, Heston and Cranford. The Premises is not currently licensed.   7.     The appropriate Ward Councillors and neighbouring wards and responsible authorities have been consulted as well as the responsible authorities. Of those, there have been two representations, which are from two Councillors concerned about crime and disorder, public nuisance and antisocial behaviour.  These representations were included in full at Appendix B.   8.     It was highlighted in the hearing that because the Premises falls in the cumulative impact area they must apply the special policy which takes the form of a presumption that applications for new premises licenses will be refused if relevant representations are received unless the applicant can address the issues raised in the special policy in their operating schedule and demonstrate that the operation of the premises will not add to the cumulative impact.   9.     The Sub-Committee was then reminded that the options open to them then were to:                       i.           To grant the application in full and on the terms and conditions contained within the application, including any applicable mandatory conditions.                   ii.           To grant the application as above, but modified to such an extent as considered appropriate to satisfy any relevant representations and promote the licensing objectives or                  iii.           To reject the application in whole or in part.   10.The Sub-Committee heard from the applicant’s representative who stated that the applicant had over 17 years’ experience in the off-licence circle and held a personal licence since 2013. The representative added that the applicant demonstrated a longstanding commitment in upholding the licensing objectives and that he is familiar with the area and that there were no police objections to this application. They highlighted that the lack of objection suggested there were no concerns. They suggested it is trusted that they will comply with the objective to prevent crime and disorder and that there is no evidence presented to suggest that the Premises will add to the problem. The representative highlighted that any such findings must be evidence based and the issues of whether there needs to be any further such premises is not something for the Sub-Committee to consider. The representative said that the applicant will ensure there is a staff training manual. They will also have a refusal book, have an incident book, ensure the Challenger 25 approach is adopted and promote no loitering.  They will also ensure there is CCTV, prevent sale of single cans and ensure staff are trained. On this basis the representative asked for the licence to be granted.   11.The Sub-Committee asked if the Applicant had any thoughts on the cumulative impact and the representative answered that the Premises will not add to crime and disorder and if it did the Premises would be back for review. They would not sell single cans or cans with high alcohol by volume. The representative also said they will put up notices outside the Premises to discourage loitering.  To address loitering staff will approach people to ask them to move along from the store and to ask them not to drink outside the store.   12.The Sub-Committee asked how cleaning would be addressed and the representative said it would not occur during hours where people might be sleeping.   13.The Sub-Committee asked why this area was chosen and the representative said there are no other off licence in this part of the area.   In terms of waste collection, the representative said it is collected two times per week from the back of the premises and deliveries are expected to arrive during the daytime. Intoxicated persons would not be served. The Sub-Committee asked about the licensing times particularly in relation to Sundays and the representative said they would be happy to restrict the hours on a Sunday for alcohol sales. They added that the Premises sell groceries also and the representative said people sometimes include a bottle of wine in their shopping during the morning, but they would be happy to adjust the time to start selling alcohol from 11 am. There would be provisions to put the alcohol behind shutters until 11 am.  The Sub-Committee considered the concerns raised in the written objections and suggested an earlier finish time for selling alcohol. The representative said they could put the hours back for selling alcohol.   14.In considering this application, the Sub-Committee has taken into account the applicant’s proposed conditions, which include conditions to make the Premises less attractive to street drinkers and address the licensing objectives of prevention of crime and disorder, prevention of public nuisance and the protection of children from harm.  These conditions include restrictions on the sales of single cans of beer, lager and cider, restrictions on the sale of high-strength beer, lager and cider, restrictions on the sale of spirit miniatures, restrictions on sales of alcohol to people who appear intoxicated, implementation of the Challenge 25 Scheme, implementation of CCTV and staff training.  These, together with the offer to delay the start time for the sale of alcohol to 11:00 am the lack of any substantive evidence by the objectors and the lack of any objection from the Police, address the Sub-Committee’s concerns that a licence, if granted, would be contrary to the cumulative impact policy.    15.Accordingly, the Licensing Sub-Committee resolved to GRANT the Application for a Premises Licence with the additional conditions set out in Section M of the application, and also summarised at paragraphs 4.2 to 4.6 of the agenda.   Right to Appeal   16.Any party aggrieved by the decision of the Licensing Sub-Committee may appeal to the local Magistrate’s Court under Schedule 5 of the Licensing Act 2003 within 21 days of being notified of this decision.