Hartlepool shop stripped of licence wants booze back

Headland Local Shop, at 31 Northgate in Hartlepool, had its licence revoked in August 2025 following an investigation by Hartlepool Borough Council’s trading standards team.

During the operation, two 14-year-old volunteers purchased a packet of cigarettes and cigarette papers from the shop under the supervision of officers.

Trading standards officers also discovered 270 illegal vapes openly displayed behind the counter and found that the shop was not complying with CCTV requirements.

A new application to sell alcohol has been submitted by Vasuki Navaraththinarasa, who plans to reopen the store as an "upgraded local store" with alcohol sales from 6am to midnight.

Ms Navaraththinarasa said she is taking over the business, and the previous manager will no longer be involved in any capacity.

Despite the changes, Cleveland Police, along with the council’s licensing and trading standards teams, have raised formal objections.

Neil Harrison from trading standards said: "The applicant has a long standing management association with the premises dating back to 2022 and possibly earlier."

He noted that Ms Navaraththinarasa was listed as the food business operator in inspection reports from 2022, 2023, and 2025 and has been responsible for business rates at the address since December 2019.

Cleveland Police also raised concerns about her relationship to the former licence holder.

A spokesman said: "[she] is the spouse of the former licence holder" and "had a significant involvement in the business prior to the submission of this application and when the revocation took place.

"There remains a substantial risk of future or further issues arising that relate directly to the grounds on which the previous licence was revoked."

The council’s licensing team also objected, noting that the proposed trading hours are outside the recommended limits for residential areas.

The application will be considered by Hartlepool Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee on Wednesday, May 13.

It was originally scheduled for an earlier date but was postponed at the applicant’s request.

The hearing will determine whether the shop should be allowed to resume alcohol sales.