The undocumented structure at the site in Main Avenue was discovered by police officers last year, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

Evidence gathered of the outbuilding and (inset) Bush Hill Park Food and Wine Ltd in Main Avenue

An off-licence in Bush Hill Park provided unauthorised housing for a family of four in an outbuilding, Enfield Council’s licensing sub-committee has been told.

The previous operators of Bush Hill Park Food and Wine Ltd in Main Avenue were found to have acted “illegally and irresponsibly” by housing the couple with two young children, following an investigation.

The council’s licensing sub-committee decided yesterday (Monday 23rd) that Bush Hill Park Food and Wine Ltd at 47 Main Avenue could keep its licence as it was now under new management, but with a condition that the previous managers have no involvement going forward.

Speaking ahead of the decision, a council officer described how, across multiple inspections, previous licence holders Olcay Topalca and Soner Gun “had failed to demonstrate effective control of the premises”.

In October last year, the Metropolitan Police Service found a couple with two children, aged three and four, living in an undocumented outbuilding at the rear of the shop.

Officers also seized nearly 1,000 illicit cigarettes, 34 pouches of hand roll tobacco and 46 illegal disposable vapes. Shop staff admitted that individual cigarettes were being sold illegally for 75p each.

In addition, the licence holders were found to be failing to maintain CCTV for 31 days and not maintaining proper records.

Despite this seizure – and similar findings previously – a member of staff was, again, caught selling alcohol without a personal licence in January.

The January inspection also found that residential amenities, including a shower and kitchenette, were still in place at the address.

“These are not isolated incidents,” a council officer said at the meeting, adding: “They form a pattern of behaviour that demonstrates a willingness to trade illegally and irresponsibly.”

Ozkan Aydemir took over the shop in February. Addressing the licensing committee, consultant solicitor Robert Sutherland said it would be “a new regime” under Aydemir.

Aydemir told councillors that he is expecting to gain his licence to sell alcohol in the next two weeks. He said he had previous experience working in off-licences, had no connection with the previous licence holders, and was in the process of securing the lease for the shop.

Currently, all alcohol on the premises is being kept from view under tarpaulin. It cannot be legally sold until a new licence is granted. It’s also understood that the space previously used as living quarters is being converted into a storage area.

A council officer pointed out, however, that the member of staff who had been caught selling alcohol without a licence was still working there when she visited last week.

Sutherland responded, saying his client was in the process of taking over and making sure all staff knew how to operate legally. Another member of staff who had been found doing this more than once had already been fired, he added.

Police officers met with Aydemir last Friday (20th) and agreed to drop its closure notice now that the shop was under new management.

Trading standards, which is separate from the licensing committee, is investigating alleged criminal activities of the previous licence holders.

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