Westminster Restaurants Face Licence Review After Multiple Illegal Worker Discoveries
The future of two prominent Central London restaurants hangs in the balance as Westminster City Council prepares to review their premises licence following a series of Home Office investigations that uncovered 15 illegal workers. The establishments, both operating under the Al Balad name on Edgware Road near Marble Arch, have been the subject of multiple immigration enforcement visits spanning eight years.
Sustained Pattern of Immigration Law Breaches
According to official Home Office documentation presented to Westminster City Council, immigration officers conducted enforcement visits to the restaurants on four separate occasions between April 2017 and June 2025. During these inspections, they consistently discovered individuals working without proper documentation or legal right to employment in the United Kingdom.
The pattern began in April 2017 when officers visited Al Balad Restaurant 1 at 11 Edgware Road and found seven men working illegally. This initial discovery resulted in a substantial £60,000 fine for what the Home Office described as a significant breach of both immigration and employment legislation.
Escalating Confrontations and Police Involvement
The situation reached a critical point during a fifth visit on October 31, 2025, when immigration officers reported facing significant hostility from restaurant staff. According to the official report, officers encountered violent and threatening behaviour that necessitated calling Metropolitan Police officers to the scene.
The report details how the restaurant manager physically grabbed a Home Office official, requiring restraint by two officers. Other staff members reportedly became increasingly aggressive, pushing and shoving officers, removing their ties, and adopting threatening postures. One worker allegedly attempted to throw furniture at officers, while another had to be physically restrained after lunging at immigration personnel.
Complex Cases of Illegal Employment
The Home Office documentation reveals complex individual cases among the illegal workers discovered. These included:
- A Tunisian national who used verbal deception to obtain a visitor visa and claimed to work three to four days weekly in exchange for food and coffee
- An individual with multiple aliases in the UK who had overstayed a domestic worker visa by one year
- A Syrian national who initially claimed to be at the premises to watch and pray but later admitted handling boxes during working hours
- An Egyptian national who attempted to leave the premises while repeatedly denying employment, despite being identified as staff by his manager
Many of these individuals had either entered the UK illegally or overstayed their visas, with several having had protection claims refused by immigration authorities.
Financial Penalties and Management Response
The restaurants have accumulated substantial financial penalties totalling £210,000, with £120,000 reportedly still outstanding. During interviews with immigration officers, premises manager Ali Hakim, who also serves as business director of Donise Limited (the company owning both restaurants), admitted hiring workers without conducting proper document checks.
Mr Hakim claimed to have implemented new systems and controls to strengthen compliance, including hiring a designated manager to maintain employment records and providing staff training on immigration laws. In a written statement, he expressed commitment to operating in a lawful, responsible, and transparent manner and pledged continued cooperation with authorities.
Official Responses and Supporting Evidence
The Metropolitan Police have supported the licence review application, stating they were horrified to learn about the October incident. Police noted discrepancies in the restaurant's CCTV management, with footage either cleared or deleted despite claims of technical issues following recent renovations.
Westminster City Council's licensing team has endorsed the Home Office's position, noting that the issues identified appear to be getting worse and demonstrating a complete disregard for the law, licensing objectives and its employees.
Despite these official concerns, some customers have written in support of the restaurants, with one diner present during the final raid claiming the immigration officers' approach caused confusion and distress among patrons.
Pending Decision and Broader Implications
Westminster City Council will review the licence revocation request during a scheduled meeting, with the Home Office emphasising that the enforcement visits indicate a sustained and deliberate disregard for immigration and employment laws over an extended period. The case highlights ongoing challenges in immigration enforcement within the hospitality sector and raises questions about compliance monitoring mechanisms for businesses operating in central London locations.
The outcome of this review could set significant precedents for how local authorities address repeated immigration law breaches within licensed premises, particularly in areas with high concentrations of hospitality businesses.
