Taunton store loses appeal after £47,000 of illegal tobacco found on site

A Somerset store has lost its licence after more than £47,000 of illegal tobacco was found on its premises.

7 Days supermarket, located at 23 East Reach in Taunton town centre, had its licence suspended in October 2021 following an investigation by Heart of the South West Trading Standards, which tackles consumer issues in Devon, Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay.

The company appealed the decision, resulting in a hearing taking place at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court in Weston-super-Mare on March 11.

Somerset West and Taunton Council has now confirmed the appeal has been struck down, meaning the premises is no longer licensed to sell alcohol.

The council issued an update on the case following a meeting of its licensing committee in Taunton on Monday evening (March 21).

Its licensing sub-committee originally voted to revoke 7 Days’ licence at a confidential hearing held on October 6, 2021, which was attended by representatives from Trading Standards, HMRC and Avon and Somerset Constabulary – but not the licence holder.

Minutes of this initial meeting record that the evidence against the licence holder was “overwhelming”, leading to the sub-committee voting unanimously to revoke the licence.

A council spokesman said: “The initial hearing followed an application made by Heart of the South West Trading Standards Services to review the premises licence, following an investigation and discovery of illegal tobacco at the premises with an estimated ‘street value’ of £47,147.33 – thought to be the biggest seizure of illegal tobacco products in Somerset to date.

“The holder of the licence appealed to the magistrates’ court against the decision, delaying the effect of the revocation.

“North Somerset Magistrate’s Court held a hearing on March 11, after the hearing on February 25 had been adjourned. The appellant did not appear and our legal advisers applied to the district judge to strike the appeal out, which they did.

“The case is now closed and the premises licence has been revoked.”