The Licensing Sub-Committee of Havering Council met on Friday 24 April 2026 to review the premises licence for Diamond Food & Wine Limited. Following discussions and consideration of representations, the committee decided to revoke the licence.

Review of Diamond Food & Wine Limited Premises Licence

The Licensing Sub-Committee reviewed the premises licence for Diamond Food & Wine Limited, located at 135-137 New Road, Rainham, RM13 8ES. The review was initiated by Mr Paul Jones, Public Protection Officer for Havering Council, with representations also received from the Home Office Immigration Department.

The primary concerns raised during the hearing related to immigration compliance and the overall management of the premises. Mr Jones highlighted that during a visit on 27 February 2026, two individuals were found to be working at the premises without the right to work in the UK. One of these individuals was serving customers, and neither had been asked to provide proof of their right to work. The Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) was also noted to be absent and had not been in post for 10 years, with the current licence holder, Mr Praful Patel, reportedly in India for medical reasons.

The Home Office, represented by Alex Romano, supported the review application, citing the employment of illegal workers as a breach of the licensing objective to prevent crime and disorder. They noted that employing individuals without the right to work deprives the government of tax revenue, exploits vulnerable workers, and provides an unfair competitive advantage to businesses. The Home Office also highlighted that the premises had been issued a civil penalty notice of £80,000 for employing illegal workers.

Further concerns were raised about public safety, specifically a blocked fire exit at the rear of the premises, which was discovered during the enforcement visit. The absence of an alcohol refusals register was also noted as a lack of due diligence in promoting the protection of children from harm. The sale of high-strength ciders was also mentioned as a concern, particularly in the context of unsupervised sales and the potential for attracting individuals with limited funds.

Arguments were made that the current licence holder had sold the business to a third party, who had applied for a new premises licence. It was suggested that the new operation would be a separate and distinct entity. However, the committee considered the cumulative impact of the issues raised.

After considering all representations, the Sub-Committee decided to revoke the premises licence for Diamond Food & Wine Limited. Each party is entitled to appeal this decision within 21 days of receipt of the decision notice.