Lebanese Taverna Express, a restaurant on Fulham Palace Road in Hammersmith, has had its licence suspended for one month after a Home Office visit uncovered an illegal worker. The suspension, decided by Hammersmith and Fulham Council's Licensing Sub-Committee this week, follows an application from the Home Office for full revocation, which was ultimately rejected.
Home Office Visit Uncovers Illegal Worker
The Central London Immigration Compliance and Enforcement team visited the premises on September 18, 2025, where they encountered a kitchen porter who admitted to being hired without any pre-employment checks. The worker, who had entered the UK in March 2022 via a small boat from France, had made a claim for protection that was later withdrawn due to non-compliance. His bail conditions prohibited him from working, yet he confirmed he had been employed for two months prior to the visit, working 15 hours weekly.
The former licence holder, Shakeeb Mohamed Ayash, acknowledged that he had not conducted any right-to-work checks and stated the worker had shown false documentation to his boss. The Home Office report highlighted the seriousness of the offence, stating: “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.”
Penalty and Licensing Hearing
The illegal worker reported being paid £9.50 per hour, below the minimum wage of £12.21, and sometimes received cash payments. A £40,000 penalty was issued to Moezali Ltd, the company that ran the premises, though this remains unresolved. The licensing hearing, initially scheduled for early September, was adjourned after the licence changed hands to Yousef Aga on August 21, 2026.
At the rescheduled meeting, Alexandra Romano, a Home Office Licensing Compliance Officer, argued for revocation, stating: “The central point is that this review was never simply about the presence of one illegal worker but what the evidence revealed about the operation of the business. Mr Ayash accepted responsibility for recruitment, staffing and payment of workers. He also accepted that no pre-employment right to work checks had been conducted. That admission is significant.”
Sub-Committee Decision and Conditions
Saima Rizvi, speaking on behalf of Mr Aga, contended that the conduct related to a period before his involvement and that revocation was “unnecessary.” She noted that steps had been taken to ensure future compliance. However, Ms Romano expressed doubts, saying: “If there was credible evidence provided today then maybe I would be more convinced…but it’s all well and good saying these things will be implemented, but we need credible evidence. There’s nothing today that supports that.”
In the end, members opted for a one-month suspension rather than revocation. Additional conditions include a scheduled visit by the licensing authority in two months, a ban on Mr Ayash being employed at the premises in any capacity, and the implementation of an online compliance system to record right-to-work checks. The decision aims to ensure the business operates lawfully moving forward.
