Takeaway loses late licence after Illegal workers found

A takeaway has had its late licence revoked after three people were found to be working there illegally.

Deluxe Pizza in Bridgwater, Somerset, was visited by Home Office immigration officials in November 2024 after an allegation that the business owner was employing illegal workers.

They fined the business £80,000 after they found three staff members did not have the right to work in the UK.

Somerset Council has now stripped the takeaway of its late licence, meaning the business will not be able to serve food after 23:00 and until 05:00 each day.

Two of the workers were from Afghanistan and both arrived on a small boat.

One of them told officials: "I'm paid in food, not money. I'm not allowed to work officially, so they give me food instead."

A third worker, from Iraq, was escorted off the premises after it was found that he was only 17.

Councillor Marcus Kravis said: "Employing illegal workers, as a breach of licensing rules goes, is probably one of the most serious things you can do."

Deluxe Pizza is the second Bridgwater restaurant to be targeted by the Home Office in the last 12 months, following action taken against the Spice Club restaurant in Eastover earlier this year.

Deluxe Pizza has until September 26 to make an appeal against the decision with Taunton Magistrates' Court.

Correction 12 December: A previous story stated the takeaway had lost its premises licence, but in fact it had lost its licence to serve food between 23:00 and 05:00. This has been corrected.

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