Key Points
- Licence in danger: The Blue Rose, an adult store located in Kentish Town, could have their sex establishments licence withdrawn due to an intervention by the Metropolitan Police.
- Illegal medicines: Police inspectors found Sildenafil—medication used to treat impotence—available for sale in the premises without prescription.
- Dangers to health: Some of the medicines that were confiscated were 200 mg, twice the highest allowable dosage of 100 mg, which can cause serious health conditions such as heart attack or irregular heartbeats.
- Unauthorized Staff: According to the police, the shop was being run by unauthorized staff members who were not medical trained and had no names on the premises license.
- Other Issues: The police have also voiced concerns about the sales of “poppers” and unidentified fluids, which could possibly contain dangerous substances like GHB.
- Role of Council: Despite the venue being labeled “compliant” in a review carried out in June, the Camden Council Licensing Sub-Committee is still considering an application for a new license.
London (Extra London News) August 7, 2026 – A longstanding sex shop in North London is at risk of permanent closure after authorities uncovered evidence of illegal pharmaceutical sales occurring on its premises.
The Blue Rose, an adult retail store situated in Kentish Town, has held its sex establishment licence for over a decade. However, the business now finds itself in a precarious position after Metropolitan Police licensing officers conducted inspections that revealed stashes of Sildenafil—a regulated drug used to treat erectile dysfunction—being sold directly to customers over the counter.
As reported by Josef Steen, a Local Democracy Reporter for My London, the Metropolitan Police have formally urged Camden Council to reject the shop’s application for a new licence in light of these discoveries. The police argue that the illegal supply of medication, combined with significant safety oversights, renders the venue unsuitable for continued operation.
Why are the police opposing the licence renewal for the Blue Rose?
The Metropolitan Police’s objection is rooted in the discovery of what they describe as criminal activity involving the sale of regulated medicines. While Sildenafil is not a controlled substance, it is a strictly regulated medication that can only be legally supplied by registered doctors or pharmacists.
As reported by Josef Steen of My London, PC Christopher Malone, the Metropolitan Police’s Licensing Officer, stated in his report that although the shop had never previously given cause for concern, the recent findings constituted a serious offence. PC Malone warned that the potential consequences for consumers are severe.
“Research shows that taking 200mg of Sildenafil can potentially lead to serious or fatal outcomes if the person has heart conditions or disease,”
PC Malone noted in the official police report, as cited by My London.
“They would be at risk of suffering a heart attack or dangerous heart rhythm problems.”
The officer further highlighted that the drugs could cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure, particularly if the user was concurrently taking nitrates, certain blood pressure medications, or recreational substances such as “poppers”—the latter of which was also found for sale at the shop.
What other safety concerns were identified by the police?
Beyond the distribution of high-dosage Sildenafil, the police inspection raised alarms regarding the overall management of the shop and the potential presence of more dangerous substances.
According to the report by Josef Steen for My London, officers encountered small, unmarked bottles containing a clear liquid. The individual working at the shop during the inspection claimed these were poppers; however, PC Malone expressed significant concern, stating that the bottles “could have contained anything,” including the potent street drug liquid GHB. This is particularly concerning given the ongoing efforts to improve safety for women and girls within London’s night-time economy.
Furthermore, the police identified that the shop was not being operated in accordance with its licensing requirements. PC Malone highlighted that the staff members present during the inspections were unknown to authorities and were not listed on the premises licence.
“They have no training on selling this type of medication and they are definitely not doctors or pharmacists,”
PC Malone said, as quoted by My London.
“They could sell it to anyone, young and old.”
Additionally, the officer noted that the person on duty failed to provide a mandatory incident log, which is a strict requirement under the conditions of the establishment’s licence.
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Has the shop responded to the police allegations?
During a follow-up inspection in May, police intended to seize the remaining illicit drugs and arrange for the shop’s owner to be interviewed at a police station. Upon arrival, officers found the venue temporarily closed, and both the Sildenafil tablets and the poppers had been removed from the premises.
However, the situation remains fluid. In a subsequent inspection conducted in June—one month after the police intervention—representatives from Camden Council’s licensing team visited the Blue Rose. According to the reporting by My London, the council inspectors found the premises to be “compliant with all standards, amended and additional conditions” at that time.
In addition to the regulatory and criminal concerns raised by the police, the shop has also faced scrutiny from local residents. One resident has formally complained about the shop’s signage, arguing that it is offensive given the shop’s proximity to areas frequented by school-aged children.
What happens next for the Blue Rose?
The future of the Blue Rose now rests with the Camden Licensing Sub-Committee. The committee was scheduled to hear the licence application on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
The council will have to weigh the police’s evidence regarding the illicit sale of medicines and the breach of licensing conditions against the more recent report from their own licensing team, which suggested that the shop had returned to compliance.
The case highlights the strict regulations surrounding sex establishments and the responsibility of such businesses to maintain rigorous standards. As the situation develops, the outcome of the committee’s decision will serve as a litmus test for how Camden Council addresses public health and safety concerns in adult retail spaces.
For now, the Blue Rose remains under intense scrutiny, with its decade-long presence in Kentish Town hanging in the balance. The authorities, particularly the Metropolitan Police, have made their position clear: they believe that the nature of the offences uncovered—specifically the uncontrolled distribution of high-strength medication—is grounds for the permanent cessation of the business’s licensing rights.
As this story continues to unfold, stakeholders in the Camden community, from concerned residents to local business owners, will be watching closely to see whether the council prioritises the recent improvements in compliance or the serious history of breaches highlighted by the police.
