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By DiploPublished Checked

Ellesmere Port shops closed after illegal vape enforcement

Cheshire West and Chester Council says three Ellesmere Port shops have been closed for three months after repeated illegal tobacco, vape and underage-sales concerns.

Reporting source:
Cheshire West and Chester Council

Key takeaways

  • Three Ellesmere Port premises have been ordered to close for three months.
  • The council says officers seized cigarettes, tobacco and more than 100 vapes during related enforcement activity.
  • UK nicotine vape rules include limits on tank capacity, refill bottle size and nicotine strength.
  • Single-use vapes are illegal to sell or supply in the UK, including non-nicotine versions.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has announced three-month closure orders against three Ellesmere Port premises after action by its Trading Standards and Legal Services teams, working with Cheshire Police.

The council said on 9 September 2026 that the orders apply to Stop and Shop in Little Sutton, Vaporesso on Whitby Road, and Quick Stop on Whitby Road. According to the council, the action followed repeated sales of illegal tobacco, illegal vapes and age-restricted products to children.

The announcement says officers visited four premises in Ellesmere Port the previous week and seized nearly 20,000 cigarettes, more than 1.5 kg of tobacco and more than 100 vapes. It also says officers found hidden compartments, with a specialist tobacco detection dog used during the operation.

Why this matters for adult vapers

The case is local, but the underlying issue is national: legitimate reusable vaping products are regulated differently from illicit stock. MHRA guidance says UK consumer nicotine vaping products must meet rules including a 2 ml tank limit, a 10 ml maximum for nicotine refill containers, a 20 mg/ml nicotine-strength limit and notification before sale. GOV.UK guidance on the single-use vape ban also says businesses cannot sell or supply single-use vapes, whether or not they contain nicotine.

For adult smokers or vapers, enforcement stories should not be read as a claim that all vape shops or all products are unlawful. They do show why source, packaging, notification status and aftercare matter. A refillable pod or tank bought from a reputable retailer should have clear nicotine information, child-resistant packaging where required, and separately available coils or pods for reuse. Products sold outside those rules can expose adults to unknown quality and make enforcement harder for responsible businesses.

The council is asking residents to report concerns about illegal tobacco, illicit vapes or other age-restricted sales through the Citizens Advice consumer service.

Sources and editorial information

Written from the sources listed below.

Original source published .