Fallowfield trader that routinely sold illicit vapes, counterfeit cigarettes and sold to underage customers has been ordered to shut up shop.
On Wednesday, February 18th 2026, Manchester Magistrates’ Court issued a Closure Order against Fallowfield Mini Mart, trading in Platt Lane.
This was the result of a successful application made by Manchester City Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team, following months of investigation into this trader’s illegal actions.
In March of 2025 the Council was made aware of allegations that children were being sold vapes from the premises, and that there was strong evidence that illicit tobacco was also being sold to customers.
In April 2025, a test purchase was carried out where a volunteer underage customer was sent into the shop where they were able to purchase a vape. This was followed up later during the same month when Trading Standards officers raided the shop, confiscating tens of thousands of cigarettes, hand-rolling tobacco and non-compliant vapes.
In total officers removed 24,900 cigarettes, 150g of rolling tobacco and 128 non-compliant vapes were seized.
During this period the Council was in continued dialogue with the owners of the premises and the business operators stressing that their business practices were illegal.
However, during a second test purchase which was carried out in July 2025 a volunteer underage customer was once again able to buy a vape. Trading Standards visited the premises in August 2025 where more items were seized for non-compliance. In total, 5,200 cigarettes, 1.2kg of hand rolling tobacco and 37 non-compliant vapes were taken.
Despite these repeated warnings and enforcement actions the Council ultimately had no faith that the proprietor of this shop would stop their illegal actions, resulting in the decision to pursue a closure order.
The Closure Order, which is now in place, prevents the premises from opening for three months, until May 17, 2026.
The court also ordered that the proprietor and the director of the shop pay the Council’s legal fees, which amounted to £3,037.76.
