The Licensing Sub-Committee of Havering Council met on Friday 12 June 2026 to consider an application to transfer a premises licence and vary the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) for Best One, located at 5-7 Boxmoor Road, Romford RM5 2SH. The committee granted both applications.

Application to Transfer a Premises Licence and Vary Designated Premises Supervisor for Best One

The Licensing Sub-Committee granted the application to transfer the premises licence and vary the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) for Best One. The applications were made by Arwin Singh Sareen.

During the hearing, concerns were raised by the Police regarding the proposed DPS, Mr. Sareen, residing in Hayes, West London, which is a significant distance from the premises. This raised questions about whether Mr. Sareen would exercise genuine day-to-day control. Further concerns were focused on the involvement of Mr. Gurmeet Singh Hakimzada, the leaseholder, who had a previous licence revocation in Ealing in 2018. The Police noted that the lease agreement between Mr. Hakimzada and Mr. Sareen was not permitted under the terms of the original lease with the Council, raising questions about transparency.

However, legal arguments were presented that clarified the roles and responsibilities. It was explained that Mr. Sareen was the leaseholder and intended to manage the shop day-to-day, and that his association with Mr. Hakimzada did not prevent him from holding a licence. The applicant's representative argued that Mr. Sareen was a person of good character, possessed the necessary qualifications, and was aware of the licensing objectives. They also highlighted that the application was about a transfer and variation, not a new licence, and that there were no exceptional circumstances to refuse the transfer.

Ultimately, the Sub-Committee was satisfied that the licensing objectives would be promoted and granted both the transfer of the premises licence and the variation of the Designated Premises Supervisor. The decision means that Arwin Singh Sareen is now the holder of the premises licence and the Designated Premises Supervisor for Best One.

The meeting was attended by Councillor Christine Vickery (Chairman), Councillor Kevin Ayres, and Councillor Geoff Starns. The legal advisor outlined the committee's decision, and all parties were informed of their right to appeal to the Magistrates' Court within 21 days of receiving the written decision.