The Licensing Sub-Committee scheduled a meeting to discuss a review of the premises licence for Gants Hill Superfoods. The review was prompted by concerns raised by the Community Protection Task Force (CPTF) regarding alleged sales of alcohol to known street drinkers and the undermining of licensing objectives. The sub-committee was expected to consider evidence and representations before determining whether to modify, suspend, revoke the licence, or take no action.

Here's a breakdown of the key items from the agenda:

Application to Review a Premises Licence: Gants Hill Superfoods

The sub-committee was scheduled to discuss an application to review the premises licence of Gants Hill Superfoods, located at 17 Seven Ways Parade, Woodford Avenue, Ilford. The application for review was submitted by the Community Protection Task Force (CPTF), acting as Environmental Health, and cited breaches of public safety and the prevention of public nuisance licensing objectives. The CPTF requested the sub-committee fully revoke the premises licence.

According to the report pack, Mr Vasavan Thambhiah is the licence holder for the premises, with the current licence issued in October 2024. The CPTF's review application stated that the licence holder allegedly sold alcohol to known street drinkers, despite warnings from both the CPTF and Licensing Teams. The report pack stated that the CPTF believed that the licence holder had failed to heed these warnings, and that the operation of the premises was allegedly exacerbating problems with street drinkers in the area.

The report pack included supporting evidence from the CPTF, as well as a supporting representation from the Licensing Enforcement Team. The report pack also included a redacted copy of the Premises Licence L00385, google maps and street views of the location, a copy of section 11 - Reviews, from the revised Home Office guidance, a map of Gants Hill Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ), and an extract from the council's Statement of Licensing Policy, Chapter 6 in relation to CIZs.

The report pack stated that the premises is located within the Gants Hill Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ), as identified within chapter 6 of the council's Statement of Licensing Policy. The report pack explained that a CIZ is an area that has been identified through a Cumulative Impact Assessment which has a high number of licensed premises which are potentially leading to negative cumulative impact on one or more of the licensing objectives.

The report pack stated that the sub-committee should consider options provided under section 52 of the Licensing Act 2003, and decide whether to:

2.1 Modify the conditions of the premises licence, which may include the alteration, or omission of existing, or the addition of any new conditions; 2.2 exclude any licensable activity from the scope of the licence; 2.3 remove the designated premises supervisor; 2.4 suspend the licence for a period not exceeding three months; 2.5 revoke the premises licence; 2.6 take no action.

The report pack also included a witness statement from David Turner, Redbridge Enforcement Team Leader (CPTFT), which stated that on 31st March 2025, he and his team were patrolling the area of Gaysham Avenue when his attention was drawn to a group of Asian males drinking alcohol at the rear of Paddy Power and Gants Hill Superfoods. He approached the males and introduced himself as a Redbridge enforcement officer and started to explain the public space protection order to them. He noticed that they were drinking high strength alcohol namely Jamesons whiskey from plastic cups with a Coca-Cola mixer these males were highly intoxicated and smelt of alcohol. He seized the alcohol from them and told them to vacate the area, and recognised one of the individuals as an employee at Gants Hill Superfoods.

The report pack also included a representation from Mohammed Serdouk, Licensing Enforcement Officer, which stated that there have been alarming issues that have been reported to the council around Public Nuisance and Crime and Disorder including the subsequent statement from Officer David Turner. The representation highlighted several breaches, including licensing breached related to public safety and Public Nuisance spanning over a lengthy period.

The representation from Mohammed Serdouk stated that Gants Hill ward councillors have received a number of complaints relating to the area along Eastern Avenue, particularly close to the premises called Gants Hill Superfood 17, Seven Ways Parade, Gants Hill, Ilford IG2 6JX. It was highlighted that complaints included:

• Groups of men hanging around drinking and/or smoking, particularly around betting shops.
• Littering and urinating in the streets.
• Harassment of passing pedestrians but to females in particular.

The representation from Mohammed Serdouk stated that a warning notice was served on 18th November 2024 in relation to breaches of the Licensing Act 2003, and that a final warning notice was issued on 14th April 2025 related to supplying alcohol to street drinkers sec 140(1) of the licensing act 2003.

Procedure for Licensing Hearings

The sub-committee was scheduled to agree to follow a standard procedure for licensing hearings.