New owner bids for alcohol sales at troubled Reading store

Quais Aziz the previous owner of Todays Express in Duke Street, Reading town centre, was banned from selling alcohol at the store after police raised a number of concerns around business practice at the shop.

The licence to sell alcohol from 8am to 11pm each day was reviewed and subsequently revoked by Reading Borough Council on Friday, February 10.

The decision was made amid Thames Valley Police allegations including that Mr Aziz incorrectly selling single cans of alcohol to street drinkers and the mismanagement of CCTV.

Defending Mr Aziz, licensing solicitor Bill Donne of Silver Fox Consultants conceded that management of CCTV had been poor but argued other licensing measures, such as displaying an age verification policy, had been adhered to, and that Mr Aziz is free to sell individual drinks cans.

READ MORE: New Reading train station café could sell alcohol

Ultimately the licence was revoked as a result of councillors making the decision, meaning alcohol can no longer be sold at the store.

But now a fresh licensing application to reinstate permission on the sale of alcohol has been submitted.

It is understood that Mr Aziz has now sold the shop to  GS Chopra Limited.

According to Companies House, GS Chopra Limited is headed by Gulinder Singh Chopra of West Drayton, London.

Mr Chopra is seeking to reinstate the right to sell alcohol at the premises from 8am to 11pm Monday to Sunday.

The application has been submitted to Reading Borough Council.

Members of the public and interested parties can make a representation about the application by emailing licensing@reading.gov.uk.

The deadline for representations is Sunday, April 2.

Reading Chronicle | Town Centre