London Road Store's Licence Revoked for Repeated Law Breaches

Your Local Food & Wine caught selling alcohol to children

The store is at 491b London Road . Picture: Facebook

August 28, 2026

Hounslow Council has revoked the licence of Your Local Food & Wine, a convenience store on London Road in Isleworth, following a Licensing Panel hearing that found serious and repeated breaches of the law, including the sale of alcohol to a child and the storage of thousands of illicit cigarettes and non-compliant vapes.

The decision was made earlier this month, after councillors considered a detailed review application submitted by the council’s Licensing Enforcement team. The panel concluded that the premises had failed to uphold two key licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, and the protection of children from harm.

The review followed an underage test purchase carried out on 9 April this year, during which a 15-year-old volunteer was able to buy alcohol without being asked for proof of age. Council officers immediately informed the staff member of the offence. A further joint inspection by Licensing and Trading Standards on 28 May uncovered a substantial quantity of illicit goods hidden throughout the shop. Officers found 4,532 cigarettes in non-plain packaging, 237 non-compliant vapes, and rolling tobacco concealed in locations including a false ceiling, under the counter and in the toilet.

At the time of the inspection, the business was being run by Mr Jigar Priteshkumar Patel, despite the licence still being held by the previous owner, Wariam Singh Nagpal, who was also the Designated Premises Supervisor. Officers reported that the DPS appeared to have no involvement in day-to-day operations, and that staff had no delegated authority in writing. Mr Patel later confirmed he had been running the shop since January 2025, while also working full-time in the IT sector under a skilled worker visa. His brother and sister, who also had roles in the business, were said to be working remotely.

During the hearing, Mr Patel accepted that the underage sale had taken place and that illicit tobacco had been stored on the premises. He told councillors he believed the cigarettes were lawful because they had been purchased from a European seller previously used by the former owner. He also claimed the non-compliant vapes were not being sold and were simply stored in a back room. His representative asked the panel to give the business another chance, offering conditions such as buying only from approved UK wholesalers, retaining invoices, and ensuring all staff held personal licences.

However, Licensing Enforcement officers argued that the breaches were too serious to overlook. They noted that illicit tobacco costs UK taxpayers around £2 billion a year in lost duty and is often sold at less than half the price of legitimate cigarettes, undermining lawful businesses. They also highlighted that no inspection had taken place since May, meaning claims of improved compliance could not be verified.

Councillor Tony Louki, who submitted a formal representation supporting the review, told the panel that the area already had a reputation for underage alcohol sales and illegal tobacco. With four high schools and a college within a mile, he said the shop’s conduct was “particularly troubling” and risked exposing children to potentially dangerous products. He described the premises as “not a bona fide business” and urged councillors to revoke the licence so that “an honest business” could take its place.

After questioning both sides, the panel concluded that no conditions would be sufficient to address the concerns raised. Suspension was ruled out, and councillors agreed unanimously that revocation was the only appropriate step to protect the public and uphold the licensing objectives.

The licence holder has the right to appeal the decision to the magistrates’ court.