West London Off-Licence to Stay Open Despite Illegal Worker and Rule Breaches
A West London off-licence has been permitted to remain open despite repeated breaches of its licensing conditions, including the employment of an illegal worker and the sale of illegal goods. Lady Margaret Superstore, located at 480 Lady Margaret Road in Southall, has instead been subjected to a new set of stringent conditions it must adhere to in order to continue its operations.
Incidents Triggering the Review
The licensing review was initiated by two separate incidents that occurred between May and December of 2025. On May 31, 2025, a joint raid conducted by a council licensing team and immigration officers uncovered multiple violations. Among these was an ex-student who had no right to work in the UK, found unloading a delivery truck for the store. The individual attempted to flee the scene but was apprehended by an officer and placed in handcuffs.
Upon detention, the man appeared very nervous and attempted to explain the situation by claiming, "I don't work here, I'm just helping." However, subsequent checks revealed that he was a student visa holder whose permission to remain in the UK had been cancelled due to non-attendance at his course. He later admitted to having worked at Lady Margaret Superstore for two months, receiving £60 per week for two days of work.
Additional Violations Uncovered
During the same raid, officers discovered 50 non-compliant vapes and high-strength beers on sale, which violated a condition from a previous licensing review in 2010 aimed at preventing street drinking. Despite this enforcement action, the store continued to flout licensing rules. On December 5, 2025, when an officer visited to serve legal papers for the licensing review, a staff member was caught attempting to hide a box of illegal vapes upon entry.
Further inspection revealed five additional illegal vapes concealed in a box, as well as more high-strength beers that were not price-marked, indicating that warnings issued just six months earlier had been ignored. The shop has a history of non-compliance, with over 500 illicit cigarettes found hidden in a coat during a 2019 inspection.
Committee Decision and New Conditions
Despite the repeated violations and ignored warnings, the licensing subcommittee decided against suspending or withdrawing the licence. Councillor Kim Kaur Nagpal, reading out the committee's decision, stated that the committee was satisfied with the licence holder, who had paid a civil penalty in full for the immigration offence and had proactively engaged with Ealing Council to address the issues.
The store has agreed to a new, stricter set of conditions designed to prevent future violations. Previously, the shop was limited to selling alcohol with an ABV of 5.5% or lower, a rule that had been violated on numerous occasions. The committee voted to increase this minimum to 6% ABV, with all such products required to be price-marked. Additionally, the shop is now banned from purchasing stock from "door-to-door sellers."
Enhanced Compliance Measures
To ensure greater accountability, receipts for all stock must be retained for at least 12 months, including details such as the seller's name, company, VAT, and product information. A strict "Challenge 25" policy has been mandated, replacing the previous "Challenge 21" policy. Furthermore, alcohol can no longer be stored on the floor and must instead be placed on purpose-built shelving.
Before hiring new staff, the supervisor will be required to verify all staff identification on the Home Office website. These measures aim to bolster compliance and prevent further infractions at the establishment.
