Istanbul Grill loses license, faces £90,000 fine after illegal workers and licensing violations were discovered by authorities.
The council committee made this decision after a hearing on February 11th. Istanbul Grill can no longer sell alcohol or food late at night. Playing music is also currently restricted, though they can remain open for food sales.
The owners claimed that alcohol sales are vital and might force them to close without them. The committee heard evidence from the police and the Home Office regarding illegal workers. Zohreh Hosseini and Amir Nazar broke rules by serving alcohol without a license holder, and staff lacked the required training paperwork.
Police presented evidence of many violations, which included concerns about illegal workers. They requested a review of the license, citing criminal activity and worries about child safety.
On August 1st of this year, immigration officers found two illegal workers who had no right to work in the UK. Workers stated they were paid in cash, receiving below minimum wage or only food.
The Home Office fined them £90,000, which Mr. Nazar said his lawyer is handling. An inspection on October 9th revealed more issues, such as incorrect alcohol measurements, off CCTV timestamps, and the absence of a “Challenge 25” policy.
Spirits were only served in 50ml servings, while the law requires 25ml or 35ml servings. Wine was only served in 250ml servings, but the legal minimum size is 125ml.
Mr. Nazar claimed he was managing alone that day because his child was sick. He stated alcohol was only served when his wife was there. However, he later served beer without a license holder.
Mrs. Hosseini did not respond to police requests. Planning officers also found that the license limited hot food preparation due to concerns, but inspectors discovered food being prepared anyway and an unauthorized flue installed.
Mr. Nazar has a past conviction from 2018 for selling fake tobacco at a Grantham store. Police had requested a license review back then, and he surrendered the license before the meeting.
Police cited the tobacco conviction as evidence of a pattern. They expressed a lack of confidence in Mrs. Hosseini’s ability to uphold licensing rules, worrying about crime prevention and child protection.
Police cited a government crackdown on illegal workers, with a sharp increase in arrests since July 2024. Mr. Nazar asked for another chance, pleading, “This is a family business.”
He stated the license is essential and its loss puts their future at risk. He claimed to have checked workers’ visas and thought they were only training.
Mr. Nazar said he was on vacation and didn’t fully know about the violations. He said he has copies of the papers, but did not present them. He denied intentionally breaking any rules.
He initially stated his wife was always there, but then said she may have been in the kitchen. When questioned about alcohol serving measures, Mr. Nazar couldn’t find the proper device and used a different one.
Mrs. Hosseini cited a language barrier and stated she understood the license rules. The committee rejected their appeal and revoked the license completely, lacking confidence in the owners.
Councilors questioned their understanding of responsibilities. One councilor felt they lacked the will to follow rules. The restaurant can appeal within 21 days and can still sell alcohol during that time.