Putney Shop Faces Licence Revocation Over Underage Sales Putney 2026

Key Points

• Stonehenge Food and Wine located in Putney, South London, has been put under the review process by Wandsworth Council.
• The establishment has committed offenses in two separate underage test purchases conducted by local authority volunteers.
• Offense number one occurred on 17th April where sales of alcohol were made to an underage volunteer. The second offense was recorded on 24th June, again sales of alcohol to another underage volunteer.
• The licensing team from Wandsworth council has sent out three separate warnings to the company due to repeated regulatory offenses.

Putney (South London News) September 5, 2026 – Stonehenge Food and Wine, a corner shop located in Putney, South London, faces the potential revocation of its premises licence following repeated failures during underage test purchase operations and ongoing breaches of licensing conditions. Wandsworth Council’s licensing team initiated a formal review of the establishment’s authorization to sell alcohol after issuing three separate formal warnings to the business owners. Licensing officers submitted a comprehensive report detailing a track record of non-compliance, culminating in illicit sales to minors on two separate occasions during council-led enforcement operations.

Why Has Wandsworth Council Requested a Licence Review for Stonehenge Food and Wine?

The formal review process was triggered following a series of targeted inspections and test purchases conducted by Wandsworth Council officers alongside underage volunteers. According to a report compiled by Wandsworth licensing officers, the establishment received its first formal warning on 22 April following a routine inspection that uncovered widespread regulatory non-compliance. Officers noted that the shop was operating in direct breach of multiple mandatory licence conditions, including failing to maintain operational CCTV systems, lacking proper incident logs, failing to provide documented staff training, and neglecting to implement a robust Challenge 25 age-verification policy. The initial inspection also revealed that the shop was selling high-strength single cans of alcohol, which was prohibited under its existing licence conditions designed to curb local street drinking and anti-social behaviour.

What Occurred During the Underage Test Purchase Operations in Putney?

The initial formal warning followed a failed test purchase operation conducted earlier that month. Licensing officers recorded that on 17 April, staff at Stonehenge Food and Wine sold alcohol to a 16-year-old volunteer without requesting identification or conducting age-verification checks. Despite the issuance of the formal warning on 22 April highlighting these failures, subsequent council operations demonstrated that operational practices at the venue remained unimproved.

A follow-up inspection was conducted by Wandsworth Council licensing officers on 30 June, which confirmed that the previously identified operational breaches remained unresolved by the management. During the interim period between the initial inspection and the follow-up visit, the shop failed a second test purchase. Council logs confirm that on 24 June, staff members again completed an alcohol sale to an underage volunteer working under the direction of local enforcement officers. The persistent nature of the failures and the inability of management to rectify the breach of conditions led the licensing authority to issue a further formal warning before initiating full licence review proceedings.

Background of the particular development

Under the Licensing Act 2003, local authorities in England and Wales are empowered to review premises licences when businesses fail to uphold the four core licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the prevention of public nuisance, and the protection of children from harm. Test purchase operations represent a primary enforcement mechanism utilised by local councils and Trading Standards teams to monitor compliance with age-restricted product legislation.

When a licensing authority receives a formal application for a review, a public consultation period is initiated, allowing responsible authorities—including the Metropolitan Police Service, Trading Standards, and local residents—to submit representations regarding the premises. Following the consultation period, the matter is referred to the council’s Licensing Sub-Committee. The committee possesses the statutory power to modify the conditions of the licence, exclude a licensable activity, remove the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS), suspend the licence for a period not exceeding three months, or revoke the licence entirely. Stonehenge Food and Wine had been subjected to multiple warnings prior to the review application, a procedural pathway typically followed by local authorities to demonstrate that licence holders were provided reasonable opportunity to correct operational deficiencies before facing terminal regulatory action.

Prediction: How will this licensing review affect local residents, business owners, and the community?

The outcome of the licensing review holds direct implications for various local stakeholders within the Putney community and the wider borough of Wandsworth:

• For Local Residents: A revocation or strict suspension of the shop’s alcohol licence is likely to reduce instances of street drinking, public nuisance, and youth-related anti-social behaviour in the immediate vicinity of Putney. Residents living near the shop may experience a decrease in noise disturbances and alcohol-fuelled disruptions during late hours.
• For the Business Management and Staff: Should the Licensing Sub-Committee decide to revoke the premises licence, Stonehenge Food and Wine will suffer a significant loss of revenue, as alcohol sales typically form a core financial foundation for convenience retailers. The business owners may also face mandatory management restructuring, such as the removal of the Designated Premises Supervisor, or potential prosecution under the Licensing Act 2003 if further criminal offences are pursued.
• For Neighboring Businesses and Commercial Operators: A decisive enforcement action by Wandsworth Council serves as a firm deterrent to other off-licences and convenience stores operating across the borough. Neighboring retailers will likely tighten their own internal compliance procedures, enforce strict Challenge 25 verification protocols, and ensure mandatory staff training is thoroughly documented to avoid similar regulatory scrutiny.
• For Local Enforcement and Licensing Policy: A decision to impose heavy sanctions or revoke the licence will reinforce Wandsworth Council’s zero-tolerance policy regarding underage alcohol sales. It signals to the wider public that the local authority prioritises the protection of children from harm over commercial interests, establishing a strict precedent for future enforcement operations across South London.