Railway Tavern Licence Granted, but No Designated Premises Supervisor Appointed
Lewisham Council has granted a premises licence for The Railway Tavern, but has refused to appoint a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), meaning the establishment cannot legally trade until a qualified individual is appointed.
The Licensing Sub-Committee B of Lewisham Council met on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, to consider the application for a new premises licence for The Railway Tavern, located at 401 Southend Lane. The committee approved the licence but stipulated that the business must appoint a DPS before commencing operations. The business will remain closed until a qualified DPS is appointed and communicated to the council.
The application, made by Yenka Limited, sought permission for the supply of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises, along with regulated entertainment in the form of recorded music. The application had faced objections from the Licensing Authority and Trading Standards, who raised concerns regarding the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm.
During the hearing, the applicant, Yenahir Carraghan, the sole director of Yenka Limited and previously the proposed DPS, highlighted his 24 years of experience in running public houses without issue. He apologised for administrative oversights, attributing them to genuine mistakes and personal difficulties, including a divorce.
Mr. Carraghan also stated that he didn't realise it was my, anything to do with my licence. I wasn't aware of that, with the old company. I thought it was on my name and the company name, which is my, it's just a general mistake.
He further explained that the lapse of the premises license was an oversight, as he believed the previous premises license was held in his own name and was unaware that the license had lapsed following the dissolution of the company.
The previous licence-holding company, Ceyda Bay Ltd, had been dissolved, leading to the lapse of its licence.
Ciaran O'Keefe, a representative of the Irish Disborough in Lewisham Borough, spoke in support of Mr. Carraghan, describing him as a stalwart and a pillar of the community.
However, Senior Licensing Officer Richard Lockett presented concerns arising from a joint inspection with Trading Standards on July 31, 2026. This inspection uncovered suspected counterfeit goods, non-compliant vaping products, and deficiencies in management controls. Crucially, the previous premises licence had lapsed due to the dissolution of the licence-holding company, Ceyda Bay Ltd, of which Mr. Carraghan was also the director and DPS. Evidence suggested licensable activities continued even after a warning letter was issued on 4 August 2026, indicating a disregard for the licensing regime. Mr. Carraghan also failed to attend a PACE interview, and an employee's account of cigarette sales changing multiple times further fuelled concerns.
Belda Parker from Trading Standards detailed the seizure of counterfeit handbags, football shirts, and single-use vapes. Mr. Carraghan acknowledged the handbags were counterfeit and purchased in Turkey, and that the football shirts were gifts for children, with money changing hands only to cover costs. He stated the vapes were for personal use but stored incorrectly.
Despite these concerns, the committee decided to grant the premises licence. However, they explicitly refused to specify Mr. Carraghan as the Designated Premises Supervisor. This means the business must appoint a new, qualified DPS and notify the council before it can legally operate. Attempting to trade without a designated DPS would mean the business cannot legally operate. The granted licence is subject to additional conditions proposed by the Licensing Authority, focusing on robust staff training, stock control, supplier verification, record keeping, management oversight, and CCTV requirements.
Councillor Eleonora Aiello clarified that the business will remain closed until a qualified DPS is appointed and communicated to the council, ensuring no misunderstanding about the trading commencement date.