A corner shop in Putney, South London, is at risk of losing its operating licence following multiple instances of selling alcohol to underage individuals during council-led test purchases. Stonehenge Food and Wine, located on Lower Richmond Road, has come under scrutiny from Wandsworth Council’s licensing team, which has initiated a formal review of the premises’ licence. The shop has reportedly received three formal warnings concerning its adherence to licensing regulations.
Pattern of Licence Breaches
According to a report compiled by Wandsworth licensing officers, the shop was first issued a warning on April 22. This initial caution followed an inspection that uncovered a range of violations, including issues with CCTV systems, inadequate incident logs, insufficient staff training, non-compliance with the ‘Challenge 25’ age verification policy, and the sale of high-strength alcoholic beverages.
A subsequent inspection on June 30 revealed that these breaches remained unaddressed, leading to a second formal warning. Crucially, during the period between these warnings, the shop failed two separate test purchases. On April 17, alcohol was sold to a 16-year-old volunteer, and on June 24, another underage volunteer was able to purchase alcohol.
Continued Non-Compliance and Call for Revocation
The situation escalated further when a third inspection on August 25 identified significant ongoing breaches of the shop’s licence conditions. John McGann, Wandsworth’s senior licensing officer, presented the case at a council licensing hearing on Thursday, September 3. He detailed the persistent non-compliance and highlighted the repeated failures to uphold licensing objectives, particularly those related to preventing crime and disorder and protecting children from harm.
Mr. McGann emphasized the repeated nature of the infractions, stating, “The case concerns a pattern of serious and repeated failures at Stonehenge Food and Wine to uphold the licensing objectives, most notably the prevention of crime and disorder and the protection of children from harm.” He further elaborated on the lack of progress, noting, “Despite multiple inspections, formal warnings and opportunities to rectify matters, the evidence before you demonstrates continued non-compliance, two underage alcohol sales and a persistent disregard for conditions specifically imposed to safeguard the public.”
Based on this history, Mr. McGann advocated for the revocation of the shop’s licence. His recommendation was grounded in the “repeated underage sales, persistent licence breaches, repeated failures following intervention and the absence of meaningful improvement.” The shop has held its licence since July 2025.
Shop Operator’s Response
Abdul Hamid Hamidi, who assumed responsibility for the licence in April, addressed the committee. He offered an apology for the second failed test purchase and acknowledged his understanding of the responsibilities associated with selling alcohol. Mr. Hamidi stated that he had taken steps to improve compliance, including displaying a ‘Challenge 25’ poster within the shop prior to the council’s third inspection.
Potential Outcomes
The licensing committee is now tasked with reviewing all the evidence presented. Their decision, which is expected to be published in the coming days, could result in several outcomes. The committee may choose to take no action, issue a final warning, modify the existing licence conditions, suspend the licence for a period, or proceed with the full revocation of the licence, thereby preventing Stonehenge Food and Wine from selling alcohol.
This review process underscores the importance of responsible alcohol sales and the council’s commitment to enforcing licensing laws designed to protect the community, particularly vulnerable young people.
