The Alcohol & Gambling Licensing Sub-Committee of West Northamptonshire Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 17 June 2026. The meeting's agenda includes a review of a premises licence for Wellingborough Road Mini Market.

Premises Licence Review: Wellingborough Road Mini Market

A significant item on the agenda is the consideration of an application by Northamptonshire Police for a review of the premises licence for Wellingborough Road Mini Market, located at 347 Wellingborough Road, Northampton. This review has been initiated on the grounds of failure to promote the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder.

The report pack details two visits to the premises by West Northamptonshire Council Trading Standards officers, accompanied by Northamptonshire Police on the second visit. During the first visit on 1 February 2026, a test purchase of cigarettes was conducted. The following day, a search of the premises reportedly uncovered a substantial quantity of illicit goods. This included 410 packets of cigarettes, 42 canisters of nitrous oxide, 267 unlawful single-use vapes, and 48 packs of hand-rolling tobacco.

The report indicates that the seized cigarettes and hand-rolling tobacco did not comply with UK regulations regarding health warnings and packaging. Furthermore, they were foreign-labelled and suspected to be non-duty paid, making them unlawful to sell in the UK. The sale of single-use vapes became a criminal offence on 1 June 2025, following the commencement of the Environmental Protection (Single-use Vapes) (England) Regulations 2024. Nitrous oxide is classified as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and can only be sold for legitimate purposes, not for psychoactive consumption.

The current premises licence holder and designated premises supervisor is Mr Sivanesan Karalasinggam. The premises is licensed for the off-licence sale of alcohol, with operating hours extending into the early hours of the morning on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. However, the report notes that the premises licence is currently suspended due to non-payment of the annual licensing fee, and no alcohol was found to be on sale during the visits.

The sub-committee will consider the steps it can take to promote the licensing objectives, which 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 highlights that the sale and storage of smuggled tobacco and alcohol are considered particularly serious criminal activities under the statutory guidance for the Licensing Act 2003¹, and revocation of the licence may be seriously considered in such cases.

The meeting documents include the Agenda frontsheet 17th-Jun-2026 10.00 Alcohol Gambling Licensing Sub-Committee ² and the Public reports pack 17th-Jun-2026 10.00 Alcohol Gambling Licensing Sub-Committee ³.