The Licensing Sub-Committee of Havering Council is scheduled to consider an application for a premises licence for Drinks Direct. The meeting will also include a procedural report regarding hearings under the Licensing Act 2003.

Application for a Premises Licence - Drinks Direct

The main item scheduled for discussion is an application for a premises licence for Drinks Direct, located at 59 Chippenham Road, Romford, RM3 8HL. This application has been made by Mr Ravinder Singh Grover under section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The report pack indicates that the premises is situated at one end of a parade of commercial outlets, with residential properties located above. It is within the Gooshays cumulative impact zone, an area where Havering's licensing policy suggests that granting further licences for off-premises alcohol sales may undermine licensing objectives. The policy creates a rebuttable presumption that such applications will normally be refused unless the applicant can demonstrate that the operation will not add to the existing cumulative impact.

The application seeks to permit the supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises during the following hours: Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 23:00, and Sunday from 10:00 to 22:30.

The report notes that this premises was previously licensed as The Drinks Seller off-licence, but that licence was revoked in April 2026. This current application appears to be for the premises to be licensed again as an off-licence.

There were no representations made against this application from interested persons. However, Havering's Licensing Authority made one representation, citing concerns about the applicant's previous history with licensed premises and the application's perceived failure to address the demands of the Gooshays cumulative impact policy.

The report pack includes extensive documentation detailing the application process, including the applicant's details, the operating schedule, and representations from responsible authorities. These representations highlight significant concerns regarding the applicant's history, including previous licence reviews and findings of illegal goods and workers. Specifically, the Metropolitan Police have raised objections to a proposed transfer of the licence and Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) arrangement, citing concerns about a transfer by proxy and the involvement of Mr Gurmeet Singh Hakimzada, whose own premises licence was previously revoked. The Licensing Authority's representation also details concerns about the applicant's history, including previous findings of counterfeit goods and illegal workers, and the revocation of the licence for the premises itself, The Drinks Seller .

The report pack also includes a procedural report from the Clerk, outlining the procedure for hearings under the Licensing Act 2003. This document details the steps involved in considering applications, representations, and the powers available to the Sub-Committee, which include modifying licence conditions or rejecting the application.