Restaurant Seeks to Regain Licence After Immigration Raid

Strategic Insights -

Following an immigration raid that uncovered staff working illegally, the New Golden Gate restaurant in Sutton, UK, has applied to regain its licence only weeks after it was revoked by the Sutton Council's Licensing Sub-Committee. The raid, carried out by the Home Office's Immigration Enforcement Licensing Compliance Team, found five illegal workers at the restaurant over a two-year period. The situation was described as an "example of exploiting vulnerable people". During the inspections, officers found staff who were working in exchange for food or lodging, and others who were living rent-free above the restaurant.

Key Takeaways:

  • The New Golden Gate restaurant in Sutton, UK, had its alcohol and late-night licence revoked by the Sutton Council's Licensing Sub-Committee due to the discovery of five illegal workers.
  • The Home Office's Immigration Enforcement Licensing Compliance Team found that staff were working in exchange for food or lodging, and others were living rent-free above the restaurant.
  • The restaurant's owner, Ravi Jakkula, initially denied knowing the men but later admitted allowing one to work during Ramadan and failing to carry out proper right-to-work checks.
  • The Home Office fined the restaurant £90,000 for employing two people without the right to work in the UK, with £89,500 still outstanding.
  • The restaurant has applied to renew its licence to serve alcohol, late-night food, and play music.
  • The Sutton Council's Licensing Sub-Committee will consider the application, which is open for public comment.
  • A Home Office spokesperson stated that enforcement action nationwide has increased, with raids and arrests up by around 50 per cent on the previous 12 months.

Statistics:

  • 5: Number of illegal workers found at the New Golden Gate restaurant over a two-year period.
  • £90,000: Amount fined by the Home Office for employing two people without the right to work.
  • £89,500: Amount still outstanding in the Home Office debt to the restaurant.
  • 50%: Increase in raids and arrests by the Home Office nationwide on the previous 12 months.
  • 2017: Year in which Premises Licence holder Mr Zaheer Babar took over.
  • 2 years: Duration of the illegal working at the New Golden Gate restaurant.
  • 2025: Year in which immigration officers returned to the restaurant and found two illegal workers.
  • 3: Number of times the man in the chef's whites was found during inspections.

Sources:

  • "Restaurant faces licence crackdown after immigration raid" by Sutton Guardian, available at: [www.suttonguardian.co.uk/news]
  • "Restaurant given £90,000 fine for immigration breaches" by Sutton Guardian, available at: [www.suttonguardian.co.uk/news]
  • Home Office statement, available at: [www.gov.uk/home-office](http://www.gov.uk/home-office)