The Licensing Sub-Committee of Havering Council met on Tuesday 07 April 2026 to review the premises licence for The Drinks Seller, located at 59 Chippenham Road, Romford. The committee decided to revoke the licence due to serious concerns about the operation of the premises, including the sale of alcohol to an underage person and a lack of responsible management.

Review of The Drinks Seller Premises Licence

The primary focus of the meeting was an application to review the premises licence for The Drinks Seller, submitted by Oisin Daly, a Public Protection Officer for the London Borough of Havering. The review was initiated due to concerns that the licensing objectives were being undermined, specifically relating to the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, and the protection of children from harm.

Evidence presented indicated that the previous licence holder and Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), Salih Maden, had ceased operating the business in 2025. Despite this, alcohol sales were observed to be continuing. A Public Protection Officer, Oisin Daly, visited the premises and witnessed a staff member, Gagam Singh, selling a can of high-strength alcohol (Oranjaboom Black, 8.5% ABV) to a customer, even after being explicitly told that such sales were unlawful due to the absence of a DPS. Mr. Daly had written clear instructions for Mr. Singh on a piece of paper, stating that he could be prosecuted for selling alcohol. Mr. Singh's response, indicating Boss watching, suggested a disregard for the instructions and a focus on potential repercussions from management rather than legal compliance.

The Metropolitan Police also submitted a representation in support of the review. PC Chris Stockman highlighted concerns that the premises had been supplying alcohol without the appropriate authority in place, as no transfer application had been received by the local authority. He also noted that a recent proposed DPS arrangement appeared to be a transfer by proxy, with contact details not matching the proposed female DPS and residing a significant distance from the premises. The police expressed a lack of confidence in the premises' ability to operate in accordance with its licence, citing concerns about transparency, compliance, and the integrity of the licensing regime.

The Home Office Immigration Enforcement also made representations, supporting the review application. Raj Handel from the Home Office noted that the individual observed selling alcohol had a low command of English and that the premises had links to Gurmeet Singh Hakimzada, who had previously been issued civil penalties for employing illegal workers. This raised concerns about potential illegal working practices and further crime and disorder at the premises.

During the hearing, Salih Maden, the previous owner, stated his readiness to take full control of the business again, believing this would solve the problems. However, he acknowledged that he had been in business for 24 years and found it difficult to understand why he was still responsible for the licence during the transition period. He admitted to not seeing any of the transfer documents and only dealing with the prospective buyer, Gurmeet Singh.

After considering all the evidence and representations, the Licensing Sub-Committee decided to revoke the premises licence for The Drinks Seller. The decision was based on the failure to uphold licensing objectives, particularly concerning the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety, due to the apparent lack of responsible management, unlawful alcohol sales, and potential for illegal employment. The licence holder will receive written representation of the decision within five working days and has 21 days to appeal.