The Licensing (2003 Act) Sub-Committee of Newham Council was scheduled to consider an application for the review of a premises licence for Stratford News and Wines. The meeting agenda also included procedural matters.

Review of Premises Licence for Stratford News and Wines

The sub-committee was scheduled to hear and determine an application for the review of the premises licence for Stratford News and Wines, located at 107 Romford Road, Stratford E15 4LY. The review application was submitted by the Council's Licensing team, acting as a responsible authority.

The grounds for the review were stated to be all four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. The report pack indicated that supporting letters and emails had been received from local residents.

The report detailed a history of engagement between the Licensing Officer and the premises since June 2025, citing concerns such as sales to street drinkers and vulnerable persons, resulting in public nuisance through litter and urination. The report also noted instances of sales to intoxicated individuals and the proximity of schools.

The Licensing Authority, represented by Enforcement Officer Shane Passfield, indicated that if the sub-committee was not minded to revoke the licence, they would recommend appropriate training for the licence holder and staff, along with specific conditions to be added to the licence. These proposed conditions included restrictions on the sale of spirits in bottles less than 35cl, screening of alcohol displays outside permitted hours, limiting the display of spirits to staff-accessible areas, prohibiting the sale of beer, cider, lager, and stouts of 6% ABV or above, marking all alcohol containers with the premises' name and postcode, requiring the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), premises licence holder, or a personal licence holder to be present during licensable hours, and mandating the sale of a minimum of four cans or bottles of cider, stout, lager, or beer at any one time.

Additionally, the Licensing Authority expressed concern about the vulnerability of persons purchasing alcohol, suggesting that this vulnerability may have been exploited for financial gain. They recommended that the licence holder and all staff undertake Welfare and Vulnerability Training, alongside Violence Against Women and Girls training, due to prostitution issues in the area.

The licence holder, Mr Harmon Singh Sarin, had responded to the review application, stating that he did not believe there were any concerns relating to the premises licence and that imposing restrictions would not help tackle the issue of homelessness and alcoholism. He argued that local shops help the community and that restrictions would negatively affect the business, which was already struggling.

The sub-committee was asked to hear the review application, representations from the licence holder, and any valid representations received from responsible authorities and interested parties to determine the application.