A Droylsden off-licence that committed a series of licensing breaches is to remain closed to protect the public.
Amsterdam Off Licence at 77 Market Street was closed last October following offences that included selling illegal vapes and tobacco.
Tameside Council was successful on Friday (17 January) with an application to Tameside Magistrates Court to extend the Closure Order for a further three months until 18 April.
The Council took action to prevent a recurrence of criminal activity as there was no assurance that the issues would not return.
The premises had been found to be consistently non-compliant in relation to various licensing, waste management and Trading Standards matters, and other criminality. It had been subject to two premises licence reviews.
In December 2022, Council officers found a car at the rear of the premises that was being used to store illicit tobacco and drugs and the business’s licence was suspended for three months with conditions attached.
New owners continued to operate the business in a non-compliant manner and sell illegal vapes and tobacco. In September 2023, a car was again found parked at the rear of the shop containing a large quantity of illegal goods and the business’s licence was revoked.
The ownership changed hands again, but an application for a new licence was refused. However, the premises continued to sell alcohol, illicit tobacco and illegal vapes. On serving the initial Closure Notice in October more illicit tobacco, including 2,500 cigarettes and 30 pouches of tobacco, was seized.
