The Licensing Sub-Committee of Barnet Council is scheduled to convene on Wednesday 13 May 2026. The primary focus of this meeting will be a review of the premises licence for Food For Less, located at 20 Watling Avenue, Edgware. The committee will also consider the procedure for licensing sub-committee hearings.

Review of Premises Licence for Food For Less

A significant item on the agenda is the report from the Licensing Manager concerning a review of the premises licence for Food For Less, situated at 20 Watling Avenue, Edgware HA8 0LR. This review has been initiated by the London Borough of Barnet Trading Standards authority, represented by Karl Schultz, the Trading Standards Team Leader.

The application for review, detailed in the Full Hearing Report Cleared Food For Less 20 Watling Ave document, cites concerns related to the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety. The grounds for the review include the discovery of smuggled goods, specifically non-duty-paid cigarettes, foreign-labelled prescription medication, and incorrectly labelled alcohol, during a Trading Standards inspection on 28 January 2026. The report notes that a test purchase on 11 December 2025 also resulted in the sale of illegal cigarettes.

The report outlines that the premises licence holder is currently Mr Ciprian-Filaret Solovastru, and the designated premises supervisor is Stefan Oancea. A transfer application to Kappuccino UK Ltd is also under consideration, though it is stated this has no bearing on the review process. The current licence authorises the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption, with specific hours on Fridays and Saturdays extending to 1 am, and Sundays to Thursdays until midnight. The premises are open to the public 24 hours a day.

The Licensing Act 2003, under Section 51, mandates that a hearing must be held to consider representations made in respect of a premises licence review. The Sub-Committee is required to give appropriate weight to representations from all parties, the Guidance issued pursuant to section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, and the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy 2025-2030¹. The potential steps the Sub-Committee can take include modifying licence conditions, excluding licensable activities, removing the designated premises supervisor, suspending the licence for up to three months, or revoking the licence entirely.

The report also includes supportive representations from several customers, including Mrs Ramona Nedelea, Mrs Iuliana Piloiu, Marius Dancuta, and Tudorita Dariuta, who attest to the shop operating responsibly and contributing positively to the community.

Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing Procedure

The committee will also consider the LBB Licensing Sub-Committee Hearings Procedure document, which outlines the framework for conducting hearings to ensure natural justice and a fair hearing. This procedure is based on regulations made under the Licensing Act 2003². It details the roles of the Chair, Governance Officer, and Licensing Officer, as well as the time limits for presentations and the process for discussion and determination. The procedure also addresses the use of video evidence and the steps involved when a decision is made at the end of a hearing or reserved for a later announcement.