Indian restaurant allowed to keep licence after right‑to‑work “mistake”

An Indian restaurant in Liscard has been allowed to keep its premises licence after councillors ruled that revoking it would be disproportionate, despite a £40,000 Home Office penalty for employing a worker who was not permitted to work in the role.

Elachi, on Seaview Road, faced a licensing review after immigration officers found an employee working illegally in April 2025. Although the individual had a right to work in the UK, this was restricted to shortage‑occupation roles — a detail owner Nazmah Miah said she misunderstood after carrying out only a visual check of his documents.

Mrs Miah, who runs several businesses in Liscard, told the committee she believed she had followed the correct procedures but accepted she had made a mistake by not completing the required online verification. She said the fine “will bankrupt us” and confirmed she intends to challenge it in court, arguing the guidance was unclear.

A Home Office representative said illegal working undermines wages, fuels exploitation and breaches licensing objectives. Officials also noted that an educational visit had taken place a month before enforcement action, and that the penalty remains unpaid.

Mrs Miah disputed parts of the Home Office account, including claims that two workers fled through the kitchen during the earlier visit, suggesting they may have been delivery drivers.

Local councillor Richie Pitt supported her, describing the incident as a misunderstanding rather than deliberate wrongdoing and highlighting her contributions to the community.

Licensing chair Cllr Max Booth said revoking the licence would be excessive given the time elapsed since the incident and the absence of further issues. However, councillors imposed new conditions requiring strengthened right‑to‑work checks, record‑keeping and staff training.