Spon Mini Market, located on Spon Street within the Coventry City Centre, has been ordered to close for persistently selling illegal tobacco, vapes, and dangerous toys.
On the 20 May 2026, the Leamington Magistrates Court ordered the premises to close for three months. The Council’s Trading Standards and Legal teams applied to the Magistrates Court for a Closure Order, which was granted under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
Trading Standards Officers have been investigating the premises and on numerous occasions, have found large amounts of illicit Cigarettes, Hand Rolling Tobacco, and vapes on the site, as well as continued sales of such illegal goods.
Toys at the premises were found to include small parts which can cause a choking hazard as well as products not being tested and made to appropriate safety standards.
Tobacco on these premises have been found to be counterfeit and duty evaded. These products can cause long-lasting health problems and take away vital resources and funding from deprived communities. The sale of illegal cigarettes means traders do not comply with UK labelling requirements, including plain packaging, and the low cost indicates that duty and VAT payments have not been made on the cigarettes or tobacco.
Officers attempted to work with numerous operators of the business to bring them into compliance; however, advice and warnings went unheeded.
Costs of £3,616.94 have been awarded to the local council. They were split between the business operators, landlords, and Agents of the premises.
The store has been ordered to close completely for three months, and no-one is allowed to access or remain on the premises while the Closure Orders are in effect. The Closure Order will remain in force until midnight on 20 August 2026.
Those found to breach the Order may be imprisoned, fined or both.
Cllr John McNicholas, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Cohesion, said: “This closure is good news for residents and for law-abiding businesses. The Council’s Trading Standards Team is working closely with West Midlands Police and other partners to improve communities and stop commercial crime, and this closure sends an important message to those retailers selling illegal goods.
“Coventry Trading Standards will use all available powers to protect the local community and legitimate businesses.
“Anyone who has any concerns or information about the sale of counterfeit produces can contact us anonymously.”
The sale of illegal tobacco and vaping products has a detrimental effect on legitimate local businesses and also contributes to anti-social behaviour in the community.
It can also support organised crime, which increases the burden on law enforcement and takes away funding from communities. Illegal tobacco and vaping products also present a serious public health issue with very high levels of tar, nicotine and other toxic chemicals. The lower prices at which these items can be sold also encourage children to start smoking or vaping.
Sales of dangerous toys include counterfeit toys containing banned chemicals which can cause skin irritation and have links to cancer, dangerous choking hazards, and other serious risks. While often cheaper, these toys could have devastating consequences for children's health and safety. Criminals involved in counterfeiting are targeting a wide range of toys across a range of categories, leaving children exposed to unsafe, poor-quality products.
Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: “The illicit tobacco trade is driven by organised criminal gangs and poses serious risks to local communities, especially young people. Since its launch in January 2021, Operation CeCe – a National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC – has removed 69 million illegal cigarettes, 19,750kg of hand-rolling tobacco and almost 175kg of shisha products from sale, helping to clamp down on this illicit trade and protect communities and honest businesses across the UK.”
We need information from the public to help us with issues like this. Information we receive about where and when this type of activity is happening will help us build an intelligence picture and enable us to act where necessary.
If you are concerned about similar activity happening where you live, you can send us an anonymous report – please search ‘Coventry Trading Standards’ and use the online reporting form, or find the anonymous form on the Council's website.