The Licensing Sub-Committee of Ealing Council was scheduled to consider an application to review the premises licence for Oldfield Local, a convenience store located at 57 Oldfields Circus, Northolt. The review was initiated by Ealing Council's Licensing Enforcement and Compliance team, with support from the Home Office Immigration Enforcement Licensing Compliance Team.

Application to Review Premises Licence for Oldfield Local

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application to review the premises licence for Oldfield Local, located at 57 Oldfields Circus, Northolt UB5 4RR. The application was made by Ealing Council's Licensing Enforcement and Compliance team, with a representation in support received from the Home Office Immigration Enforcement Licensing Compliance Team.

The report pack indicated that the review was based on concerns relating to the licensing objective of Prevention of Crime and Disorder. Specifically, the application cited the employment of an individual who allegedly did not have the right to work in the UK and the discovery of duty-free Polish vodka that had been purchased from an unapproved source.

The report detailed an incident on Saturday, 29 November 2025, when officers entered the premises and encountered a male working there. This individual, who initially provided false details, was later identified as having entered the country illegally. He reportedly admitted to working at the premises for six months, approximately 40 hours per week, for cash, and stated he had no documentation to show the licence holder. The Premises Licence Holder, Mr. Dilleg Gabba, reportedly admitted to employing this individual, paying him in cash, and not checking his immigration status or right to work. Additionally, nine litre bottles of Polish vodka, described as duty-free, were found in a fridge, with Mr. Gabba stating they were purchased from a man who came to the shop, and no invoices were produced. The report also noted that Part B of the premises licence was not displayed.

The Ealing Council's Licensing Enforcement and Compliance team recommended that the premises licence be revoked due to the serious incident and apparent disregard for the law. The Home Office Immigration Enforcement Licensing Compliance Team also made representations in support of the review, highlighting the negative impacts of employing illegal workers and selling illicit products, and recommended that the licence be revoked.

The committee was asked to consider the application, representations, and Ealing Council's Statement of Licensing Policy. The potential outcomes for the licence, as outlined in the report, included modifying the conditions of the licence, excluding a licensable activity, suspending the licence for up to three months, revoking the licence, removing the designated premises supervisor, or leaving the licence as it is.

The report also included a summary of the procedure for Licensing Sub-Committee hearings, which would be outlined by the Chair at the beginning of the meeting. This procedure typically involves the Licensing Officer introducing the report, followed by the applicant presenting their case, representations being made by those who have submitted them, and concluding with parties summing up their respective cases. The Sub-Committee would then retire to reach a decision.

The meeting was scheduled to be held virtually and webcast live on the Council's YouTube site.