The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to consider an application to review the premises licence for Oldfield Local, located at 57 Oldfields Circus, Northolt. This review was initiated by Ealing Council's Licensing Enforcement and Compliance team, with a representation also received from the Home Office Immigration Enforcement Licensing Compliance Team.

Application to Review Premises Licence for Oldfield Local

The primary item scheduled for discussion was an application to review the premises licence for Oldfield Local, situated at 57 Oldfields Circus, Northolt, UB5 4RR. The application was made by Ealing Council's Licensing Enforcement and Compliance team, with support from the Home Office Immigration Enforcement Licensing Compliance Team.

The review was reportedly prompted by concerns related to the prevention of crime and disorder. Evidence presented in the report pack detailed an incident on Saturday, 29 November 2025, where officers entered the premises and encountered an individual who was found to have entered the country illegally and was working at the establishment. This individual reportedly admitted to working for six months, receiving cash payments of £8 per hour. The Premises Licence Holder, Dilleg Gabba, reportedly admitted to employing the individual without checking their right to work status.

Additionally, during the inspection, nine litre bottles of Polish vodka were found in a stockroom, described as duty-free and purchased from a source other than an approved Alcohol Wholesalers Registration Scheme (AWRS) member, with no invoices produced. The report pack indicated that the Premises Licence Holder was failing to promote the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective by employing illegal workers and selling illicit products.

The report pack outlined the potential actions the committee could take, including modifying licence conditions, excluding licensable activities, suspending the licence for up to three months, revoking the licence, removing the designated premises supervisor, or leaving the licence as it is. The report from the Licensing Enforcement and Compliance team recommended that the premises licence be revoked.

The committee was asked to consider the application, representations, and Ealing Council's Statement of Licensing Policy in relation to the application. The Statement of Licensing Policy sets out proposed standards and controls to promote the four licensing objectives: prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and protection of children from harm. The policy also details core hours for licensable activities and considerations for applications outside these hours.

The report pack included statements from Robert Dear, a Licensing Compliance & Enforcement Officer for Ealing Council, and from Immigration Enforcement Officers, detailing the findings of their visit and interviews. The Home Office Immigration Enforcement's representation specifically highlighted the impact of employing illegal workers, including the deprivation of tax revenue, exploitation of undocumented individuals, and the unfair competitive advantage gained by businesses employing cheap labour. They noted that employing individuals disqualified due to their immigration status is treated particularly seriously under the Licensing Act 2003 guidance, with revocation of the licence being a potential outcome.

The committee was also provided with the Premises Licence for Oldfield Local, detailing the authorised licensable activities, opening hours, and conditions attached to the licence.