Published: Thursday 23 January 2025
Two companies have been fined a total of £20,500 plus costs for breaking smoking laws in South Kensington in a hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court yesterday (Wednesday 22 January).
Which businesses in South Kensington were fined?
Creative Shop Ltd known as the White Lounge and Najma Group Ltd Trading as the Muse Lounge were successfully prosecuted by Kensington and Chelsea Council and sentenced this week.
How much were they fined?
Creative Shop Ltd were ordered to pay £11,500 in fines, a £4,600 victim surcharge plus £2,379 towards Council's legal costs. Najma Group Ltd were ordered to pay £9,000 in fines, a £3,600 victim surcharge plus £1,989 towards the Council’s legal costs.
Cllr Cem Kemahli, Lead Member for planning and public realm said:
"This sentencing shows once again that we take action against illegal business practices which put people at risk. Our trading standards team are out there cracking down on wrongdoing, so that the many businesses doing the right thing have a fair market to operate in, and the borough stays a safe place to eat, drink and party for everyone.”
In July 2024, the case was brought forward by the trading standards officers and the judgement was delivered in the absence of the defendants who were found guilty of supplying tobacco related products without health warnings and failing to stop people smoking in a smoke-free premises.
What happened?
Creative Shop Ltd operated a café in Beauchamp Place, South Kensington where members of the public were found smoking within a completely enclosed basement area with no outdoor space. Officers also found tobacco products on sale without mandatory health warnings.
The Muse Lounge on Walton Street also supplied shisha products without any health warnings and officers witnessed members of public in smoking in enclosed areas breaching the Health Act 2006.
How to report?
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