Bid to block shop from regaining alcohol licence

A corner shop which lost its drinks licence over the sale of illegal cigarettes will face a number of objectors in its bid to be allowed to sell alcohol again.

Newman Convenience, on Newman Road in Sheffield, was stripped of its licence in February after illicit tobacco and vapes were earlier seized from the store.

Sheffield City Council's licensing sub-committee will consider the application to being selling alcohol again at a meeting on 9 June.

Sheffield Trading Standards is among those objecting to the change.

A report from Trading Standards said illicit tobacco and vapes were seized on two visits: "On both of these occasions the illegal products had been deliberately concealed to avoid detection.

"In addition to this, Trading Standards were also able to test purchase a pack of illegal cigarettes from the premises on 8 September 2025.

"Trading Standards inspected the shop on 1 May 2025 and found 1,180 illegal cigarettes concealed within a staircase."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, officers found the keys to a VW Golf which was parked behind the shop.

It contained another 8,080 illegal cigarettes and 33 packs of hand-rolling tobacco.

Three open packs of cigarettes were also found in the shop and an employee admitted that these were used to sell cigarettes for £1 each.

The report said this practice was often used for selling cigarettes to children.

The applicant is seeking permission to sell alcohol from 06:00 to 23:00 daily.

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