The Licensing Sub Committee Hearing Panel, consisting of Councillor Julie Connolly, Chair of Licensing and Appeals Committee, Councillor Paul Andrews, and Councillor John Hughes, Deputy Chair of Licensing and Appeals Committee, convened to discuss licensing matters within Manchester. The main item for consideration was a summary review of the premises licence for Richie & Nickie Liquor Store. The meeting was scheduled to take place in the Council Antechamber, Level 2, Town Hall Extension.

Summary Review of Richie & Nickie Liquor Store

The central focus of the meeting was the summary review of the premises licence for Richie & Nickie Liquor Store, located at 159 Princess Road, Manchester, M14 4RE. This review was initiated following an application by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) under Section 53A of the Licensing Act 2003, citing concerns of serious crime associated with the premises.

According to the report of the Director of Planning, Building Control and Licensing, the application for a summary review was triggered by an incident on 10 August 2025, during the Caribbean Carnival, where a female customer, after purchasing alcohol, stabbed a member of the door staff in the lower abdomen. The application stated that the customer did not wish to exit through the premises according to the shop policy in place during the Caribbean Carnival, but staff permitted her to leave through the front door.

The report stated that a 10-day public consultation was undertaken, in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003 regulations, which required the application to be advertised by displaying a blue notice at the premises and publishing details on the council's website.

The panel were asked to consider what steps were appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives, taking into account any change in circumstances since any interim steps were imposed, consider any relevant representations, and review the interim steps already taken.

The possible steps that the Panel could take were:

• To modify the conditions of the premises licence
• To exclude from the scope of the licence any of the licensable activities to which the application relates
• To remove the designated premises supervisor from the licence
• To suspend the licence for a period not exceeding 3 months
• To revoke the premises licence.

Interim Steps

The report pack included a summary of the Licensing Committee's reasons for a prior decision to take no interim action following the application for an expedited review.

GMP had requested the conditions of the licence be modified to include:

• SIA¹ security staff to be employed from 20:00 hours until closing each night
• Customers to be checked by handheld wand before/upon entry
• Customers bags to be searched
• Premises to close early at 23:00 hours on a Friday and Saturday

The premises offered early closure at midnight on a Friday and Saturday night.

The Committee considered that the management had complied with their licensing conditions, and in fact had gone above and beyond by employing four SIA registered door staff instead of the requisite two. They had employed and entrance and egress system and managed the patrons by limiting numbers inside the store at any one time.

The Committee considered this to be an isolated incident on carnival weekend, and the Committee did not consider the proposed condition by GMP to be either necessary or proportionate.

Current Premises Licence

The current premises licence stated that the Premises Licence Holders are Harold Mckenzie and Nickeysha Alecia McKenzie, and they have held the licence since 4 October 2021. Nickeysha Alecia McKenzie is also the Designated Premises Supervisor, a position she has held since the same date. The licensable activities permitted by the licence are the sale by retail of alcohol, with standard timings from 06:00 to 24:00, Monday to Sunday, for consumption off the premises only.

Relevant Representations and Additional Information

The report indicated that no relevant representations had been received regarding the application. Additionally, no further information had been submitted by any party involved.

Key Policies and Considerations

The report outlined several key policies and legal considerations relevant to the review. These included compliance with the Licensing Act 2003 (Hearings) Regulations 2005, consideration of new information presented, and the acceptance of hearsay evidence. The panel were also directed to have regard to the Secretary of State's Guidance to the Licensing Act 2003 and the Manchester Statement of Licensing Policy.

The Manchester Statement of Licensing Policy sets out the vision the licensing authority has for the regulation of licensed premises throughout Manchester and outlines the standards expected in order to ensure the promotion of the licensing objectives in the city.