Shop with ‘beer cave’ given backing to sell booze

The Premier Store on Norton Road, Stockton, opened its doors at the weekend after owner Sag Hussain promised food-to-go, desserts, Hershey’s milkshakes and Tango Ice Blasts from his new venture.

Now Stockton councillors have given the former launderette a pass to sell booze from 9am until closing time following a brief hearing on Tuesday.

Seven objectors voiced doubts ahead of the licensing decision.

Worries about the need for another shop selling drink and the potential for booze-fuelled anti-social behaviour were sounded.

But there were also 14 messages of support for Mr Hussain’s plans – backing the venture and vouching for his character.

Police and environmental health teams were happy with conditions laid down for the new store.

And councillors were shown a fly-through video of ceiling cameras and state-of-the-art cooling zones for beers.

Nick Semper, representing Mr Hussain, told the committee how the businessman had never sold alcohol to a child or to a drunk – and had faced no issues so far since the Norton Road store opened.

Mr Semper added: “What you’ve seen is a significant six-figure refit of the former launderette.

“Lagers and ciders are to be located in a cave which is a sealed off area with an air refrigerated section so the stuff is cold and chilled already.

“We don’t sell any beers, lagers or ciders over 6.5 per cent so your super strength cheap stuff is not on the market.

“We don’t sell single cans and only stock quality or craft products.”

Mr Hussain has run a store on The Avenue, in Nunthorpe, for the past three years.

Stockton newsagent Stephen Tate, Premier store owner Sagar Hussain, and legal representative Nick Semper

He was handed the Middlesbrough Council civic award for community business of the year 2021 – and has also been shortlisted for a UK off-licence retailer gong in the past.

Ingleby Barwick resident Gary Moore praised his efforts ahead of the hearing.

He added: “It brought people together and gives a great service to people around the store.

“He creates jobs, offers a lifeline to a lot of people and helps any one who has needed it.”

Mr Semper told the panel he couldn’t find a bottle of wine on sale in the new store for less than £5.50 – claiming the shop was the “most CCTV-surveilled store in the whole of Stockton”.

He added: “It’s not only got state-of-the-art CCTV, but built within it is facial recognition so if you ban somebody, whether you know their name or not, if that person walks in again, they will be identified and asked to leave.”

Stockton shopkeeper Stephen Tate – a former Northern district president of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents (NFRN) – also vouched for Mr Hussain’s character.

Mr Tate added: “There is no evidence to show he’s going to sell cheap alcohol or sell to kids.

“His shop in Nunthorpe has had no problems.”

After a few minutes of deliberation, the committee granted the licence to start immediately.