Release date: 18 December 2025
The licence to sell alcohol at Town Centre News in Crawley has been suspended for three months following the discovery of illegal and banned tobacco products on the premises by West Sussex County Council Trading Standards.
When Trading Standards Officers inspected the Town Centre News mini-market on the Boulevard in Crawley in August 2025, they found a variety of illegal and non-compliant tobacco products. Some of the products are banned in the UK and others did not have the necessary health warnings.
The officers found packets of illegal chewing tobacco in two blue plastic bags near the till which the proprietor, Jayesh Limbachia, attempted to conceal from them. More unlawful tobacco products were found in the storeroom.
West Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards made an application to review the premise licence to Crawley Borough Council’s licensing sub-committee. On 13 November the premises licence held by Jayesh Limbachia and Jitendra Limbachia was suspended for three months. In addition, Jayesh Limbachia was removed as the Designated Premise Supervisor – the person responsible for the day-to-day running of a business that sells alcohol in England and Wales – and new licencing conditions were imposed.
The three-month licence suspension is the maximum term allowed. It was imposed to deter the licence holders from doing the same again and as an example to other businesses. It also gives the licence holders time to implement the new licencing conditions and install a new Designated Premise Supervisor.
Cllr Duncan Crow, Cabinet Member for Community Support, Fire and Rescue, said: “Once again, our Trading Standards team has successfully removed unsafe tobacco products from sale. These illegal products are rightly banned because of the health risks they present.
“The work our officers do is vital for protecting our residents and holding individuals and businesses accountable.”
The licence suspension will take effect over Christmas and the new year unless an appeal is lodged by the proprietors.
If you would like to report an issue, please visit: Report an incident or issue to Trading Standards - West Sussex County Council.
