The Licensing Sub-Committee of Barnet Council was scheduled to discuss a review of the premises licence for Food For Less, located at 20 Watling Avenue, Edgware. The meeting's agenda also included the procedure for licensing sub-committee hearings.

Review of Premises Licence: Food For Less

The primary item scheduled for discussion was a review of the premises licence for Food For Less, located at 20 Watling Avenue, Edgware HA8 0LR. The report pack indicated that this review was initiated by Karl Schultz, the Trading Standards Team Leader for the London Borough of Barnet, under Section 51 of the Licensing Act 2003.

The review application cited concerns related to the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder, and public safety. The grounds for the review included the discovery of smuggled goods, specifically non-duty-paid cigarettes, foreign-labelled prescription medication, and incorrectly labelled alcohol, during a Trading Standards inspection on 28 January 2026. A previous test purchase on 11 December 2025 had also resulted in the sale of illegal cigarettes. The application sought the revocation of the premises licence.

The report pack detailed the premises licence history, noting it was first issued on 30 October 2014, with Mr Ciprian-Filaret Solovastru as the licence holder. It also mentioned a pending application to transfer the licence to Kappuccino UK Ltd. The current licence authorises the sale of alcohol for off-premises consumption, with extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays, and the premises are open to the public 24 hours a day.

The report pack also included four representations from customers supporting the continued operation of the premises, highlighting positive aspects such as product quality, respectful service, and the absence of witnessed crime or anti-social behaviour.

The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider the application and any relevant representations, in accordance with Section 52 of the Licensing Act 2003. The potential steps the committee could take, as outlined in the Act, included modifying licence conditions, excluding licensable activities, removing the designated premises supervisor, suspending the licence for up to three months, or revoking the licence. The report pack noted that any decision would not take immediate effect and would be subject to appeal periods.

Licensing Sub-Committee Hearing Procedure

The meeting was also scheduled to cover the procedure for Licensing Sub-Committee hearings, as detailed in the document LBBLicensingSubCommitteeHearingsProcedure_.pdf. This procedure, based on regulations made under the Licensing Act 2003, is designed to ensure natural justice and a fair hearing. It outlines the roles of the Governance Officer and the Chair, the process for introducing parties, the presentation of cases (with a time limit of three minutes per party), and the subsequent discussion and deliberation phases. The procedure also covers how decisions are made, whether announced at the end of the hearing or within five working days, and the process for appealing decisions to Willesden Magistrates' Court.