Coventry shop shut over illegal tobacco and unsafe toys: key details

Amelia Patel Author 2026-06-03 19:54 Updated: 22:44 4 min read

A close-up shot of a closed sign hanging on a shop glass door.

By Beehive Web News

Published 3 June 2026

A Coventry city centre shop has been ordered to close for three months after investigators found it had persistently sold illegal tobacco, vapes and unsafe toys.

Spon Mini Market, on Spon Street in Coventry City Centre, must remain closed until midnight on 20 August 2026 under a Closure Order granted by Leamington Magistrates Court on 20 May 2026.

Coventry City Council said its Trading Standards and Legal teams applied for the order after repeated investigations at the premises, with similar underage vape checks showing how councils target retailers suspected of selling nicotine products to children. The order was made under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Three-month closure on Spon Street

The closure means the store must shut completely while the order is in force. No one is allowed to enter, remain in or use the premises during that period.

Anyone found breaching the order may face imprisonment, a fine, or both.

The court also awarded costs of £3,616.94 to the council. Those costs were split between the business operators, landlords and agents connected with the premises.

The case puts Spon Mini Market among a growing number of local shops facing court-backed action over illicit tobacco and vape sales. Similar enforcement has also been seen in other cities, including three-month closures after illegal vape sales in Nottingham.

Illegal tobacco, vapes and toys found

Trading Standards officers said they had investigated the shop over a period of time and found large amounts of illicit cigarettes, hand-rolling tobacco and vapes on numerous occasions.

The council said the tobacco found at the premises included counterfeit and duty-evaded products. Illegal tobacco can avoid UK labelling rules, including plain packaging requirements, and low prices can indicate that duty and VAT have not been paid.

Officers also found toys at the premises which raised safety concerns. Some contained small parts that could present a choking hazard, while other products had not been tested or made to appropriate safety standards.

The council said officers had tried to work with multiple operators of the business to bring the shop into compliance, but advice and warnings were not followed.

Safety risks for shoppers and children

Illegal tobacco and vaping products are treated by enforcement teams as both a consumer safety issue and a community crime issue.

Products sold outside legal supply chains may expose buyers to high levels of tar, nicotine and other toxic chemicals. Lower prices can also make cigarettes and vapes more accessible to children and young people.

Unsafe toys carry a separate risk. Counterfeit or poorly made toys can include banned chemicals, small detachable parts, weak construction or missing safety testing. For parents and carers, the concern is not only that a product is fake, but that the normal checks designed to protect children may never have been carried out.

Coventry City Council said illicit tobacco and vaping sales also harm legitimate local businesses that follow the law, pay tax and meet product safety requirements.

Council warning after court order

Cllr John McNicholas, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Cohesion, said the closure was good news for residents and law-abiding businesses.

He said Coventry Trading Standards was working with West Midlands Police and other partners to improve communities and tackle commercial crime.

“This closure sends an important message to those retailers selling illegal goods,” he said. “Coventry Trading Standards will use all available powers to protect the local community and legitimate businesses.”

He added that anyone with concerns or information about counterfeit products can contact the council anonymously.

Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of National Trading Standards, said the illicit tobacco trade is driven by organised criminal gangs and poses risks to local communities, especially young people.

National Trading Standards said Operation CeCe, its initiative with HMRC, has removed 69 million illegal cigarettes, 19,750kg of hand-rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale since January 2021.

Residents concerned about similar activity in Coventry can search for Coventry Trading Standards and use the council’s online anonymous reporting form.

Source: Coventry City Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

This report is based on Coventry City Council's published notice and preserves the named premises, court date, order length and enforcement details.

Checks

Confirmed the named premises as Spon Mini Market on Spon Street in Coventry City Centre.
Checked the Closure Order date of 20 May 2026 and expiry at midnight on 20 August 2026.
Matched the enforcement basis to the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
Retained the reported council costs figure of £3,616.94.

Coventry City Council Check wider coverage