A bid to sell alcohol at a convenience store on Uxbridge Road has been rejected by Hammersmith and Fulham Council due to significant fears over crime and disorder.
The Licensing Sub-Committee decided to refuse the application for Retail 24, located at 70 Uxbridge Road, after hearing objections from the Metropolitan Police, the Licensing Authority, and local residents. The proposed operating hours for the food retail aspect of the store are 24 hours a day, Monday to Sunday, while the proposed hours for the sale of alcohol off the premises were Monday to Sunday, 10:00 to 23:00.
Concerns were raised about the premises' history, with its previous licence having been revoked on 10 December 2025 due to serious breaches of licence conditions and the sale of alcohol outside of the permitted hours
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Further details indicate that the premises failed a test purchase by selling alcohol before permitted hours (11:00 am), sold a single bottle (breaching a condition about minimum container sizes), and the seller did not hold a personal licence, which was a requirement for them to be present at all times. Additionally, the premises was unable to provide CCTV footage, and numerous other conditions were breached. The premises was also open 24 hours but not licensed for alcohol sales during those extended hours, and failed to provide lockable tamperproof shutters to be closed at the end of permitted hours. A copy of the licence could not be provided.
Despite an ongoing appeal against the previous licence revocation, which is awaiting a court date, the licence that has been appealed is still in effect pending the magistrate's court's decision. This history was considered a significant factor in the committee's decision.
The Metropolitan Police strongly objected, citing a persistent pattern of criminality, anti-social behaviour, and disorder associated with the premises and its vicinity. Police records detailed numerous incidents, including drug dealing, violent assaults, and theft, often occurring directly outside the shop.
Specifically, the police records indicate repeated reports of drug dealing directly outside the premises, individuals known for drug supply and use congregating at the location, CCTV contacting police regarding potential drug transactions, recovery of drugs, drug paraphernalia, and offensive weapons from persons outside the premises, and intelligence suggesting the location acts as a regular meeting point for individuals involved in crime and ASB. There are also reports of drug use and nitrous oxide misuse immediately outside the premises.
PC Charlotte Bennett stated that the premises had been a magnet
for anti-social behaviour and that granting a licence would threaten the progress made in improving the area. PC Samuel Locking echoed these concerns.
Incidents of theft included the recovery of stolen laptops from within the premises, shoplifting attempts, and robbery investigations resulting in arrests connected to individuals located outside of the premises. Violent assaults reported include a female lunging at passers-by with a broken bottle, a male being punched in the back of the head without apparent provocation, and victims reporting being attacked and robbed by a group of youths, with one victim sustaining facial injuries.
Local residents and the Caxton Village Tenants and Residents Association also voiced strong opposition, highlighting a history of anti-social behaviour, drug-related activity, and street drinking. They expressed concerns about the cumulative impact of licensed premises in an area already experiencing significant issues. Within approximately 8 minutes' walk of 70 Uxbridge Road, there are at least 14 premises licensed for the sale of alcohol, including multiple off-licences, pubs, bars, and hotel bars. Additionally, there are 5 bookmakers and 3 adult gaming centres in the immediate vicinity, with some of these venues operating late-night licensing hours.
Councillor Mercy Umeh also objected, citing concerns about crime, disorder, public nuisance, and public safety, arguing that the proposed hours were disproportionate for a food retail store.
The applicant, Mr Zahid Mohammad, had amended the proposed hours for alcohol sales to 10:00 to 23:00 Monday to Sunday in an attempt to address concerns. He stated his commitment to operating a responsible, community-focused store with measures such as CCTV and a Challenge 25 policy. Beyond these, he proposed staff training on responsible alcohol sales and conflict management, maintenance of incident and refusals registers, personal licence holder supervision at all times during licensable activities, restrictions on the sale of high-strength alcohol and minimum container sizes, secure storage of alcohol, annual risk assessments, prominent signage requesting customers to have regard for local residents, and full cooperation with authorities.
However, the committee concluded that granting the licence, even with the amended hours and proposed measures, would not adequately promote the four licensing objectives due to the significant history of the premises and the persistent concerns raised by responsible authorities and local residents. The full decision can be found in the Decisions 14th Jul 2026 document.
