The Licensing Sub-Committee of Ealing Council convened a virtual meeting on Wednesday, 11 June 2025, to discuss licensing matters within the borough. The primary focus of the meeting was scheduled to be a review application for Little Ealing Convenience, located at 2a The Quadrant, Little Ealing Lane, Ealing, W5 4EE. This review was initiated by the Licensing Authority's Enforcement and Compliance Team.

Review Application for Little Ealing Convenience

The Licensing Authority's Enforcement and Compliance Team applied for a review of the premises licence held by Mr Rajendra Arvindbhai Patel for Little Ealing Convenience. The report pack outlined several actions that the committee could consider:

• Modifying the licence conditions, including adding, altering, or removing existing conditions.
• Excluding a licensable activity from the licence.
• Suspending the licence for up to three months.
• Revoking the licence.
• Leaving the licence unchanged.

The application for review was prompted by an incident on 30 October 2024, when a 15-year-old volunteer, working with Ealing Trading Standards, was able to purchase alcohol at the store without being asked for identification. According to the statement of Robert Dear, Licensing Compliance & Enforcement Officer, the volunteer selected a bottle of Corona, and the shop assistant did not ask for ID or their age, but simply told the volunteer the price.

Following the test purchase, officers returned to the premises and spoke with Ruchir Patel, the shop assistant, who reportedly stated that he sold the alcohol because the shop next door sells to kids. Robert Dear also noted that the premises did not have the required Part B of the premises licence on display, and the shop worker appeared to have had no licensing training.

In his witness statement, Ellis Donaldson, Trading Standards Officer, confirmed Robert Dear's account, adding that he spoke to the shop worker about the lack of stock in the shop, while the volunteer picked up the bottle of Corona.

Robert Dear's statement concluded that Mr Rajendra Arvindbhai Patel, the Premises Licence Holder, was failing to promote the Prevention of Crime and Disorder and the Protection of Children from Harm licensing objectives¹.

As a result, Robert Dear requested that the designated premises supervisor be removed and that the following conditions be added to the premises licence:

1. CCTV cameras and recorders must be installed and maintained to a standard approved by the police, with continuous operation, unobstructed views, evidential quality recordings stored for 31 days, and staff trained in CCTV operation.
2. There should be no stock or sale of high strength beer, lager, or cider (above 6% ABV), all such products must be clearly price marked, and there should be no single cans or miniature spirits sold.
3. A personal licence holder must be present during licensable activities.
4. A Challenge 25 policy² must be in force, with appropriate signage, and the only acceptable forms of ID are those with photographic identification, including passports, photo-card driving licences, or proof of age cards bearing the PASS hologram³.
5. An incident/refusal log must be kept to record crimes, complaints, CCTV faults, refusals of alcohol sales, visits by authorities, and CAD reference numbers where police are called.

Robert Dear also requested that the licence be suspended for up to three months to allow for the appointment of a new designated premises supervisor and for staff training.

The report pack also included a copy of the premises licence, LN/000007218, which authorises the retail sale of alcohol (off supplies) from Monday to Saturday between 08:00 and 23:00, and on Sundays between 10:00 and 22:30. It also noted that no representations were received during the consultation period.