Smoque, a Turkish restaurant in Bromley town centre, may lose its premises licence after four illegal workers were found there over three years. The Home Office has applied to Bromley Council to revoke the licence, citing repeated non-compliance with immigration and employment law.
Illegal Workers Discovered
Immigration officers first visited Smoque in May 2023, finding a Turkish national hiding in the toilet with a large sum of cash under £1,000. He had entered the UK concealed in a lorry in December 2000 and worked at Smoque for one year without right to work. He left the UK in June 2023.
Officers also encountered a Kazakhstani woman in the kitchen who tried to leave upon seeing them. She had worked a few days without right-to-work checks. She entered on a visit visa valid from July 2022 to January 2023, making her an overstayer. She departed in October 2023.
Further Violations
In September 2025, officers found an Uzbekistani man working 11 hours a day, six days a week. He entered the UK on a temporary work visa valid from May to November 2024 and overstayed. In April 2026, a fourth illegal worker, an Indian man, was found behind the bar. He entered on a student visa expiring January 2024, then had graduate leave until January 2026, but made no attempt to regularise his stay.
Below Minimum Wage
All workers were paid below minimum wage. The Kazakhstani woman earned £6.67 per hour, the Uzbekistani man earned £7.58 per hour, and the Turkish man earned below £10.42 per hour for longer weeks. The Home Office stated: "These wages fall substantially below the applicable National Minimum Wage and constitute clear labour exploitation, providing the premises with an unfair competitive advantage over compliant businesses."
Unpaid Penalties
The Home Office issued a £30,000 penalty after the May 2023 visit, which remains unpaid and referred to a debt collection agency. A £60,000 penalty issued in February 2026 is also unpaid. A civil penalty referral notice has been issued for the April 2026 visit, with the case ongoing.
Home Office documents note: "The repeated identification of illegal workers at the premises demonstrates a continuing pattern of non‑compliance with immigration and employment law over a period of three years. Whether by negligence or wilful blindness illegal workers were engaged in activity on the premises, yet it is a simple process for an employer to ascertain what documents they should check before a person can work."
Licence Review
Bromley Council's Licensing Sub-Committee will review the premises licence on June 24, 2026. If revoked, Smoque will be unable to serve alcohol, play recorded music, or serve food after 11pm.
