The Licensing Sub-Committee of Newham Council met on Tuesday 14 April 2026 to review the premises licence for Nandanam Convenience Store at 2 Boundary Road, East Ham. The committee decided to suspend the premises licence for six weeks and remove the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS).

Review of Premises Licence for 2 Boundary Road, East Ham E13 9PR

The Licensing Sub-Committee heard an application for the review of the premises licence for Nandanam Convenience Store, located at 2 Boundary Road, East Ham. The review was initiated by the Trading Standards Team and the Council Licensing Team, citing concerns related to the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.

Trading Standards presented evidence of illicit tobacco products being found on the premises on two separate occasions. The first incident, on 6 September 2022, involved the seizure of 21,440 illicit cigarettes and 0.12kg of hand-rolling tobacco from a filing cabinet in an upstairs room. Despite attempts to interview the premises licence holder, Premcy Somadas, an interpreter could not be secured, and a warning letter was issued. The second incident occurred on 11 September 2025, when Trading Standards, accompanied by a sniffer dog, discovered 32,540 illicit cigarettes and 0.5kg of hand-rolling tobacco in a rear storeroom. During this visit, Mrs. Somadas was cautioned for obstructing officers. Additionally, three bottles of whiskey with security tags were found, suggesting potential links to stolen goods.

The Licensing Team presented evidence related to public nuisance and public safety. Licensing Enforcement Officer Shane Passfield reported observing street drinkers purchasing high-strength cider from the premises and noted littering of alcohol containers in the vicinity of the Sir Bobby Moore Statue. Community Safety Officers Steve Aka and Shaunagh White corroborated these observations, stating that a street drinker identified as Mr. Melnic Viorel admitted to purchasing alcohol from Nandanam Stores.

The premises licence holder, Premcy Somadas, represented by her solicitor, Nathaniel Gadsby, denied any knowledge of or involvement in the sale of illicit tobacco. She explained that the illicit tobacco belonged to a former tenant of the flat above the shop, Erman Dogan, and that she had no access to the areas where it was stored. CCTV footage was presented showing Mr. Dogan confronting Mrs. Somadas and demanding compensation for the seized goods, which her solicitor argued demonstrated a strained relationship rather than complicity. Statements from Mr. Dogan, his friend Emre Seyitoglu, and the landlord, Ayoob Nazimudeen, were also submitted, generally supporting the assertion that the illicit tobacco was Mr. Dogan's responsibility.

The defence argued that the premises had an otherwise unblemished record and that revoking the licence would disproportionately affect Mrs. Somadas and the local community, particularly vulnerable residents who rely on the shop for essential items. They proposed alternative sanctions such as conditions on the licence or a period of suspension.

After considering all the evidence and testimonies, the Sub-Committee decided to suspend the premises licence for six weeks. They also decided to remove Mrs. Premcy Somadas as the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS). A number of conditions will be communicated to the licence holder in writing within five working days. The committee noted that this was a difficult decision but felt the suspension would provide an opportunity for Mrs. Somadas to undertake necessary training and address the other conditions imposed before the licence can be fully reinstated.