A store owner in Reading is in trouble after knives were found behind the shop counter.
King Food & Wine opened opposite the Back of Beyond Wetherspoon pub in the Spring of 2024.
Situated in Kings Road, the convenience store was created following the closure of the Pack & Send postage business which previously occupied the building.
A licence was granted for alcohol sales between 7am and 11pm in November 2023.
But Reading Borough Council officers and Thames Valley Police have asked for the licence to be revoked due to concerns about the management of the business.
Officials have accused the owner, Manmeet Singh, of a number of management failings, including knives being stored behind the counter, employment of an illegal worker at another premises, and placement of toys near age-restricted products.
Knives were found behind the counter in August 2024, September 2025 and June this year.
Licensing officer Ben Williams wrote to Mr Singh in June and August 2024 and June this year to raise his concerns.
He said: “A large knife was found behind the counter within arm’s length of where you or your staff sit when serving customers.
“This is deeply concerning, and I would urge you not to keep a knife behind the counter.
“A knife was found under the till in hands reach of your employee, this is not the first time a knife has been discovered under the till at your premises. I again implore you to ensure this does not continue.”
Following the latest visit, PC Delcan Smyth wrote: “The repeated discovery of knives accessible to staff behind service counters is highly concerning.
“The fact that such items continued to be found over a prolonged period, despite previous intervention, demonstrates a failure to address known safety issues.”
The officers uploaded three photos of the knives discovered, along with evidence of children’s toys and DVDs being placed near smoking pipes, alcohol and energy drinks.
Mr Singh was also accused by authorities of hiring an illegal worker at M&M Food & Wine in Wokingham Road, a store he previously ran.
A separate report into an alcohol licence for M&M Food & Wine stated that a failed asylum seeker from Nepal was discovered working there during a Home Office immigration enforcement visit on June 17.
The officers stated that alcohol was sold outside of authorised hours on July 26, 2024, but did not specify the exact time of the alleged sale.
A meeting to determine the review will be held by the council’s licensing applications sub-committee on Thursday, October 1.
Councillors have the power to modify the licence, suspend alcohol sales for up to three months or revoke the licence entirely.
Mr Singh or a representative on his behalf will be able to make representations during the meeting.
