The Licensing Sub-Committee of Havering Council met on Tuesday 7 April 2026 to consider an application to review the premises licence for The Drinks Seller, located at 59 Chippenham Road, Romford. Following extensive discussion and consideration of representations from the Licensing Authority, the Police, and the Home Office, the Sub-Committee decided to revoke the premises licence.

Review of The Drinks Seller Premises Licence

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

During the hearing, it was revealed that the previous licence holder and Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), Mr. Salih Maden, had indicated he ceased operating the business in 2025. Despite attempts by the Licensing Authority to clarify the situation, Mr. Maden did not respond. A subsequent visit by Mr. Daly to the premises observed a staff member, identified as Gagam Singh, selling a high-strength alcohol can to a customer, even after being explicitly told that such sales were unlawful and could lead to prosecution. Mr. Daly noted that the premises was located within the Gooshays Cumulative Impact Zone¹, an area with significant issues related to street drinking.

Representations were also heard from PC Chris Stockman of the Metropolitan Police, who expressed concerns about the legitimacy of a proposed DPS transfer and the potential for DPS transfer by proxy. The Police noted that the contact details provided for the proposed DPS, Miss Hashveen Kaur Hakimzada, actually belonged to a Mr. Gurmeet Singh Hakimzada, who had a history of employing illegal workers and had faced civil penalties and licence revocations.

Mr. Raj Handel from the Home Office, Immigration Enforcement, echoed these concerns, highlighting that businesses linked to Mr. Gurmeet Singh Hakimzada had previously employed illegal workers. He stated that the individual observed selling alcohol at The Drinks Seller had a low command of English, raising further questions about training and compliance. The Home Office supported the review application and recommended the revocation of the licence.

Mr. Salih Maden, the former licence holder, attended the meeting and stated his intention to resume control of the business. He explained that he had believed the sale of the business was progressing smoothly through solicitors and that he had not anticipated remaining responsible for the licence for such an extended period. He admitted that he had not seen any of the transfer documents and that his experience in selling businesses was limited. He also acknowledged that his brother had made a single sale of alcohol during a difficult personal time, which he described as the only such instance in 24 years of operation. He confirmed that the premises had historically sold single cans of high-strength alcohol, and that while he was aware of the council's desire for multi-pack sales, he had an agreement to continue selling individual cans due to the financial circumstances of some customers.

After considering all representations, the Sub-Committee decided to revoke the premises licence for The Drinks Seller. Written reasons for this decision will be provided within five working days, and Mr. Maden will have 21 days from receiving those reasons to lodge an appeal.