Licensing review outcome: Usha Indian Restaurant licence revoked

Burnley Borough Council has formally revoked the premises licence for Usha Indian Restaurant following a licensing review initiated by the Home Office. The review was triggered by concerns over illegal working practices at the premises, prompting a detailed investigation and hearing before the Licensing Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee considered all relevant representations, including submissions from the Home Office, the premises licence holder, and other interested parties. In reaching its decision, the Sub-Committee applied the principles outlined in Burnley Council’s Licensing Policy and the statutory framework of the Licensing Act 2003.

The review revealed serious breaches of licensing responsibilities. The licence holder failed to conduct right-to-work checks and did not maintain employment records, undermining the licensing objective of preventing crime and disorder. Although the licence holder acknowledged their wrongdoing, the Sub-Committee found no evidence of effective systems or processes to prevent illegal employment. This failure was deemed systemic rather than isolated, and the Sub-Committee concluded that revocation was the only proportionate response.

The premises licence holder has the right to appeal the decision to the Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of receiving the formal Decision Notice. Until such time, the revocation remains in effect, and the premises may not operate under the revoked licence.