The Licensing Sub-Committee of Ealing Council met on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, and refused an application for a new premises licence for Mann Food & Wine, located at 16 King Street, Southall, UB2 4DA. The decision was made after careful consideration of representations from the Metropolitan Police and the Licensing Authority, who raised concerns about the potential for increased crime, disorder, and public nuisance.

New Premises Licence for Mann Food & Wine Refused

The Licensing Sub-Committee has refused the application by Mann Food & Wine Southall Ltd for a new premises licence to sell alcohol for consumption off the premises. The proposed hours for alcohol sales were Monday to Sunday, from 08:00 to 23:00.

The Sub-Committee considered the application in light of the premises' location within the Southall Special Policy Area (SPA), which was established due to significant levels of alcohol-related crime, anti-social behaviour, and public nuisance. Both the Metropolitan Police and the Licensing Authority submitted objections, citing ongoing issues with street drinking, disorder, and crime in the locality.

A key factor in the decision was the applicant's history. Mr Gurjeet Singh Khurana, the proposed Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), was previously the Premises Licence Holder and DPS when the licence for this premises was revoked in November 2023 due to the discovery of illicit and non-compliant products. Despite assurances that those responsible for the previous failings had been dismissed, the Sub-Committee was not satisfied that Mr Khurana had demonstrated sufficient practical understanding of how to manage the premises responsibly and address the identified local problems.

Further concerns were raised by the discovery of a baseball bat behind the counter during a joint visit by the police, Trading Standards, and the Council's licensing team on 15 September 2026. While Mr Khurana stated the bat was for protection following an assault, its ready availability to staff reinforced the Sub-Committee's concerns about incident management and public safety.

The Sub-Committee also noted that the requested opening hours of 08:00 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays were earlier than the core hours set out in the Council's Statement of Licensing Policy¹. While not an automatic reason for refusal, this was considered as part of the overall assessment of local risks.

Despite the applicant's willingness to accept additional conditions, the Sub-Committee concluded that these would not sufficiently address the cumulative impact risks and unresolved concerns about supervision and incident management. Therefore, granting the application was deemed likely to undermine the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder, public safety, and preventing public nuisance.

The applicant, licence holder, or any person who made relevant representations has the right to appeal the decision to the Ealing Magistrates' Court within 21 days of being notified.