Richmond Council has suspended a Twickenham restaurant's premises licence, despite an ongoing court appeal over an alleged illegal worker.

Twickenham Tandoori on Church Street has had its premises licence suspended for three months after the local authority reviewed allegations of illegal working at the restaurant.

The decision was made by the council's licensing sub-committee following a hearing on 20 October, which was triggered by a Home Office Immigration Enforcement investigation.

The decision notice, issued on 27 October, said the committee had concerns about right-to-work checks, public liability insurance and whether workers had received appropriate health and safety and food hygiene training.

The suspension comes as the restaurant's owner, Mozaid Hussain, continues to dispute the Home Office's findings through a County Court appeal, which is listed for February 2027.

Why was Twickenham Tandoori's licence suspended?

The review followed a visit by Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers to the restaurant at 33 Church Street on 8 October 2025.

Officers spoke to two men from Bangladesh who were undertaking kitchen duties.

According to the council's decision notice, one man told officers it was his first day at the restaurant on a trial basis and that he was undertaking food preparation without right-to-work checks having been completed beforehand.

The second man said he had worked at the business as a kitchen porter since the Covid-19 pandemic, working four to five days a week and receiving '£50 a week' in cash.

The committee said it was concerned that neither individual had the relevant right-to-work paperwork.

It also raised concerns about whether people undertaking duties at the premises had appropriate public liability insurance and training in food hygiene and general safety procedures.

The decision notice stated: "Consequently, there cannot be confidence that the premises is being run in a responsible way."

The committee concluded that there could not be sufficient confidence that the licensing objectives of preventing crime and disorder and ensuring public safety were being upheld.

Home Office Immigration Enforcement had argued that revoking the premises licence would be an appropriate and proportionate response.

However, the committee decided to suspend the licence for three months, giving the business time to ensure its policies and practices could meet the licensing objectives in future.

The decision notice said the premises licence holder's representative had told the hearing that management would carry out the relevant right-to-work checks before anyone undertook duties at the restaurant, whether on a work trial or as a permanent employee.

One allegation withdrawn as court appeal continues

The original Home Office investigation resulted in a £90,000 civil penalty being issued to Mr Hussain on 6 November 2025.

Following an objection, the penalty was reduced to £45,000 on 11 December 2025.

However, the council's decision notice confirmed that the Home Office subsequently withdrew the civil penalty relating to the first individual on 15 December 2025.

The remaining allegation concerns the second individual, whose circumstances are the subject of Mr Hussain's ongoing County Court appeal.

The committee acknowledged the appeal, listed for February 2027, while noting that the licensing review operated under a separate legal process.

Before the hearing, Home Office Immigration Enforcement had initially sought an adjournment until the court proceedings concluded.

The request was withdrawn, and the licensing review proceeded.

READ MORE: Twickenham restaurant paid illegal worker '£50 a week'.

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