West London Convenience Store’s New Licence Application Denied After Previous Revocation

A convenience store in West London, which had its licence revoked last year, has seen a new application for an alcohol licence denied. Retail 24, located on Uxbridge Road in Shepherd’s Bush, sought permission to sell alcohol from 10am to midnight from Sunday to Thursday, and until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. Zahid Mohammad, the applicant, intended to acquire the store from the current owner, Kamran Raza, under the assumption that Hammersmith and Fulham Council would approve the new licence.

Last December, councillors voted to revoke the store’s existing licence due to frequent breaches of its conditions during Mr Raza’s management. This decision is currently subject to an appeal. Mr Mohammad’s application received 18 objections during the consultation period, with significant concerns raised regarding the requested operating hours and the establishment’s troubled history.

Concerns Over Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour

PC Charlotte Bennett from the Metropolitan Police’s Licensing unit expressed serious reservations, stating: “The proposed venue is in a location experiencing high levels of crime, particularly violent crime and anti-social behaviour. The area also attracts street drinkers, and granting this application would not be a positive addition to the community.”

The Caxton Village Tenants and Residents Association (CVTRA) submitted a representation on behalf of 57 local residents, highlighting existing issues of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and crime in Shepherd’s Bush. The CVTRA’s statement emphasised that the vicinity around 70 Uxbridge Road is already facing substantial problems linked to late-night activities, street gatherings, and disorder. They warned that allowing the continued sale of alcohol from this location would exacerbate these existing difficulties.

Councillor Mercy Umeh, representing Shepherd’s Bush Green and chair of the Licensing Sub-Committee, voiced concerns that the proposed hours would negatively impact residents through increased noise, litter, and potential disorder.

Proposed Adjustments to Operating Hours

In response to the objections, Mr Mohammad and his proposed business partner, Ehtesham Bukhari, agreed to reduce the operating hours to 10am to 11pm, seven days a week, ahead of the meeting on 14 July. Following this concession, both the council’s Noise and Nuisance Team and Councillor Umeh withdrew their objections. However, Councillor Umeh was absent from the meeting, which was chaired by Councillor Molly Mantle.

Despite the reduction in hours, opposition remained strong. Adrian Overton, the Licensing Team Manager at the local authority, remarked, “While this reduction is welcomed, we believe the applicant has not fully grasped the challenges of managing an off-licence in an area with persistent high levels of ASB and alcohol-fuelled nuisance.” He also noted the significant and relevant history associated with the premises, suggesting that if a licence were to be granted, it might be advisable to set an earlier closing time of 9pm or 10pm.

Community Voices and Future Management Plans

PC Bennett reiterated her objections even with the amended hours, stating, “This does not address our primary concerns regarding the operation of the business and the long-standing issues linked to this venue.” She pointed out that since the previous licence revocation, two additional incidents had occurred at Retail 24, including the recovery of stolen laptops linked to an individual renting space at the store.

Local resident Manjit Sanghera shared her personal experiences with crime and disturbances in the area, describing how she often encounters individuals loitering in her doorway, making her feel unsafe. She recounted instances of being verbally abused when asking them to move and expressed concern over public urination in her vicinity.

In response to the community’s concerns, Mr Mohammad assured that he and Mr Bukhari are fully aware of the store’s history and are committed to preventing similar incidents in the future. Mr Bukhari explained that the previous management’s failures had informed their approach, and they have designed their operations to ensure such mistakes do not reoccur. He stressed their commitment to being present on-site and engaging with the community, stating, “We are local, and we are all together.”

Final Decision from the Licensing Committee

During the meeting, Councillor Mantle probed Mr Mohammad about his association with Mr Raza, to which Mr Mohammad clarified that he was introduced to Mr Raza through a mutual friend after relocating to the UK from Italy in 2020. He emphasised that, while he was aware of Mr Raza’s intention to sell the store, they are not in regular contact, and the current management would have no role in his operations.

In his closing remarks, Martyn Freeman, Chair of the CVTRA, highlighted the area’s ongoing troubles, suggesting that refusing the application could help mitigate the problems. He stated, “This is an opportunity to reduce that trouble by not adding another alcohol licence to the area.” Ultimately, the application was unanimously refused by the committee members.