Lewisham Council has granted a premises licence for The Railway Tavern but refused to appoint a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), meaning the pub cannot trade until a qualified individual is appointed and notified to the council.
The decision was made by Lewisham's Licensing Sub Committee B on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, following concerns raised by the Licensing Authority and Trading Standards regarding suspected counterfeit goods, non-compliant vapes, and a history of regulatory breaches.
During a joint inspection on July 31, 2026, officers discovered three counterfeit handbags, one child's football outfit, and two or three counterfeit Nike football shirts. Additionally, 35 single-use vapes were found displayed behind the bar, along with a packet of cigarettes. The applicant, Yenahir Carraghan, who is the sole director of Yenka Limited and was the proposed Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), admitted the handbags were counterfeit and purchased in Turkey, stating they were gifts for customers who reimbursed him. He claimed the vapes were for personal use.
Trading Standards issued a formal caution for the offences. Belda Parker, a Crime Enforcement and Regulation Officer, explained that the sale of counterfeit goods is an offence under the Trade Marks Act 1994, and the single-use vapes contravened regulations.
Further concerns were raised by the Licensing Authority regarding the lapse of the previous premises licence due to the dissolution of the licence-holding company, Ceyda Bay Ltd, of which Mr. Carraghan was also director and DPS. Under the previous licence, the specific regulatory breaches identified were the licence lapsing due to the dissolution of the company, and licensable activities continuing after a warning letter had been issued on August 4, 2026.
Senior Licensing Officer Richard Lockett highlighted that the applicant's involvement in the previous operation meant the issues could not be attributed solely to a prior management regime. He expressed a lack of confidence in the applicant's future compliance, particularly given the apparent disregard for the warning letter.
Despite these concerns, the committee granted the premises licence application. However, they refused to specify Mr. Carraghan as the DPS, meaning the business must appoint a qualified individual and notify the council before it can legally operate. The licence is subject to additional conditions covering staff training, stock control, record keeping, CCTV, and protection of children.
Councillor Eleonora Aiello clarified that the business will remain closed until a qualified DPS is appointed and communicated to the council. If The Railway Tavern attempts to trade without a qualified DPS, the business cannot trade until this appointment is made and notified to the council.
More information about the meeting can be found in the Agenda frontsheet and the Public reports pack.