A new convenience store, Vape'z N Go, has been granted an alcohol licence despite objections from local residents concerned about the premises' history and potential for increased anti-social behaviour.
The Richmond upon Thames Licensing Sub-Committee approved the application for a premises licence for Vape'z N Go, located at 138-140 Heath Road, Twickenham, on Monday, July 13, 2026. The licence permits the sale of alcohol for consumption off the premises between 8am and 11pm, seven days a week.
Two residents, Sandra Kukreja and Terry Clark, formally objected to the application. Their primary concerns centred on the premises' past issues with selling age-restricted items, including alcohol, to underage individuals. The premises previously lost its licence in 2022 after a review due to underage sales. Residents also reported unsociable behaviour and youth drinking on the street corners at all hours of the day
and that the location was known as a place to purchase underage. Concerns were also raised about phoenix applications
, where premises attempt to circumvent scrutiny by altering company names or directors without addressing underlying management issues.
Mr. Maninder Singh Grover, the applicant, represented by Mr. Panchal, stated that he had previous experience in off-licences and licensed bars. He emphasised that this would be a family-run business and that all staff would receive comprehensive training, including on age verification procedures and the implementation of a Challenge 25 policy. This training will be carried out regularly, and training records will be documented and available for inspection by responsible authorities. The training manual includes details on right-to-work, regular training sessions, and the use of refusal and incident books. All training carried out will be logged and available for inspection.
Mr. Grover also clarified that there was no connection between his business and the previous management of the premises, which had a history of licence issues. Specifically, Mr Manmit Golati and Mr Chandeep Singh Arora, the previous management associated with the 2022 underage sales incident, are to be banned from the property. The operating schedule explicitly states: Previous management who owned this business back in 2022 Mr Manmit Golati and staff member Mr Chandeep Singh Arora, shall not be allowed to enter the property, they shall be banned from the premises.
The Sub-Committee granted the licence subject to several conditions. These include the mandatory implementation of a Challenge 25 policy, the installation and maintenance of a CCTV system, comprehensive staff training in responsible alcohol retailing, and the keeping of an incident log.
The CCTV system must be installed and maintained to Home Office Guidance standards. It needs to cover all entry points and internal areas, including the servery counter, and be capable of obtaining clear facial recognition images and head and shoulders images of everyone entering or leaving. Recordings must display the correct date and time and be retained for a minimum of 31 days. A member of staff trained in its use must be available at all times the premises is open to download images when required, and recordings must be made available to the police and authorised officers upon request.
An incident log must be kept at the premises and made available for inspection upon request by an authorised officer or the Police. The log should record: (a) all crimes reported to the venue, (b) all ejections of patrons, (c) any complaints received, (d) any incidents of disorder, (e) any faults in the CCTV system, (f) any refusal of the sale of alcohol, and (g) any visit by a relevant authority or emergency service.
The licensing officer, Russ Stevens, noted that the premises is located just outside the Twickenham Town Centre Cumulative Impact Zone, meaning the policy for that zone did not automatically apply. Residents had raised concerns about the cumulative impact of adding another alcohol retailer to an area that already has three within close proximity. These are identified as Mediterranean Market, Tesco, and a small grocery store, all within a four-minute walk from Vape'z N Go on Heath Road.
Despite the residents' concerns, the Sub-Committee concluded that the conditions attached to the licence were appropriate for promoting the four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. This conclusion was based on the applicant's commitment to responsible alcohol retailing, comprehensive staff training, and the implementation of robust operating procedures, alongside the specific conditions imposed. The Sub-Committee also noted the premises' location outside the Cumulative Impact Zone mitigated some concerns.
Further details of the meeting and associated documents can be found in the Public reports pack and the Agenda frontsheet.
