Off-licence ceases trading

An off-licence in Newark has closed after claims of illegal use of the premises.

Ali Green’s Off-Licence, on Cartergate, is believed to have closed on Friday. It had been open as an off-licence for several months.

This week the shelves were empty and a sign on the window said that it was closed.

Mr Paul Inman, the licensing officer for Newark Police, said: “We were monitoring the premises for licensing offences.”

It is understood the premises failed a test-purchase operation.

“To the best knowledge of Nottinghamshire Police the owner has ceased trading,” Mr Inman said.

The original application for a licence to sell alcohol was submitted to Newark and Sherwood District Council last year, to open from 7am-2am Monday-Thursday and 7am-4am at weekends.

A spokesman for the district council said those hours were not agreed.

Instead, permission was given to open from 7am-11pm Sunday to Thursday and 7am-midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

Certain conditions were also included on the licence, as requested by the police. These included serving only through a hatch after 10pm and having security cameras on the premises.