Datchet Mini Mart loses licence to sell alcohol on premises

A family-run convenience store given a last chance saloon in January 2010 has had its alcohol licence taken away again by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council.

The owner Nirmal Singh Gill, and designated premises supervisor (DPS) Ramandeep Gill, his son, of Datchet Mini Mart, in Slough Road, failed to show up for the review at Maidenhead Town Hall yesterday.

But members of the council's panel sub-committee pushed on and decided to revoke the premises licence.

Police called for one after the store failed a multi-agency test purchase operation on November 4 last year, when Mr Singh Gill sold alcohol to two 15-year-old girls.

Officers said it was breaching the protection of children from harm, prevention of crime and disorder and public safety licence objectives.

Panellists said they decided to carry out the review as the owner only informed the council he and no-one would be showing up for it a few hours before.

Datchet Mini Mart lost its licence in October 2009 for selling liquor to children when the DPS was the owner's son Sundeep.

The borough issued a new one in January 2010, giving a licence to another one of the owner's sons Ramandeep, who became the DPS, but imposed a raft of conditions on trading.

The owner has 21 days to appeal against the decision and can continue to sell alcohol during that period.

If an appeal is lodged, the owners can continue to sell alcohol until the case is heard at a magistrates court.