Greenford Supermarket Loses Alcohol Licence

Councillor reported seeing sales outside permitted hours

The Maxxi Food Centre on Greenford Broadway. Picture: Google Streetview

October 4, 2024

A Greenford supermarket has lost its licence to sell alcohol after it was found that employees were violating licensing conditions by selling alcohol outside of the permitted times. Northwest Supermarket [also known as Maxxi Food Centre], on The Broadway contested the review, however the committee found a serious breach of licence.

In March 2024, Deputy Mayor of Ealing Councillor Anthony Kelly noticed people walking in and out of the shop with bags of alcohol after 11pm, despite the licensing conditions prohibiting this.

After reporting this suspected breach of conditions, a Noise Nuisance Officer from Ealing Council began monitoring the shop. On Friday, 12 April, he witnessed several instances of the supermarket selling alcohol after legal hours.

Numerous times over the following weeks, officers observed four people hanging around the supermarket behaving in a way that they suspected them to be drug or alcohol users. One officer was then sold two cans of beer at 11:15pm and the shop was found to have broken the Prevention of Crime and Disorder licensing objective.

By selling alcohol past permitted hours, officers believed that it would encourage people to travel long distances to buy alcohol and as a result may lead to crime and disorder in the area.

Kamal Alton, Director of Northwest Supermarket Ltd claimed he did not know licensing conditions were being breached. However, Licensing Officer Shane Elliot said he did not feel the director was “as naive as he was claiming to be”.

Robert Sutherland, the legal representation for the premises requested a suspension of the licence rather than a revocation, with a number of conditions. These included a lockable cabinet and shutters for alcohol and beer and the locking of alcohol cabinets outside of licensed hours.

He also reminded the committee that the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) would be replaced due to the previous DPS [at the time of the breach] leaving the country.

Shane Elliott did not feel the proposals were suitable. He said, “I don’t think what is being proposed … is proportionate to the contraventions that have been going on for this period of time.

“It is seeming like the responsibility is being pushed from Mr Alton himself, onto his employees”

Cllr Kelly added, “It is evident to me that there is no observation of the licensing objectives, no understanding or, it’s a way of evading them. Nothing here I’ve heard today gives me confidence that … they can uphold the licensing objectives.”

The store will no longer be allowed to sell alcohol on the premises following the revocation of the licence.

Philip James Lynch - Local Democracy Reporter