£175 Majestic Wine bill and £1,000 on flights and hotels - Ealing Council explains card paymentsThe £175 spent on wine has since been repaid and covered by an external sponsor, the council saidView 2 Images The council says that the £175 wine payment has since been repaid by an external sponsor [stock image] (Image: Getty Images)Ealing Council used a work payment card for a £175 bill at Majestic Wine, however the local authority insists it has been paid back. ‌In total, the payments show almost £1,000 was spent by Ealing Council on flights and hotels though all were legitimate uses of public funds connected to council business, the authority says. ‌On November 25, 2025, the £175 Majestic Wine spend was logged, temporarily charging the public purse. Ealing Council says that wine payment related to an event that was fully funded through external sponsorship. Between April 2025 and April 2026, Ealing Council paid £202 to a debt recovery company and £75 to itself.