A Twickenham restaurant could be forced to shut its doors after the Home Office caught the business employing two illegal workers.

Indian eatery Twickenham Tandoori on 33 Church Street had its operating licence reviewed by the Home Office following illegal working being identified on site after a visit 8 October 2025.

The Home Office issued a civil penalty of £90,000 on 6 November 2025 to the owner Mozaid Hussain.

He objected the penalty and on 11 December 2025 it was decided to reduce the penalty to £45,000.

Mr Hussain has lodged an appeal against the penalty at the county court.

The Home Office said the appeal process is still ongoing.

Twickenham Tandoori paid one worker '£50 a week'

Officers from the Home Office Immigration Enforcement (ICE) team for south London, went into the kitchen of Twickenham Tandoori and spoke with two male workers from Bangladesh on 8 October 2025.

One told the officers it was his first day and was training on naan, tikka and grill preparation.

The man also said he was told to work from 5-11pm, six days a week and would be paid in cash, although no wage was agreed yet with the owner.

The Home Office said he had entered the UK illegally in March 2016 and claimed protection.

This was refused in September 2016 and since the visit made further submissions in relation to his protection claim refusal.

The other worker stated that he had worked at Tandoori since the Covid-19 pandemic as a kitchen porter.

He worked around four to five days a week from somewhere between 4-11pm.

He said he received '£50 per week' in cash from the owner with food and accommodation.

The Home Office's redacted report wrote: "The individual confirmed that no employment checks were carried out by the current owner and that, although his immigration documents had been requested, they were never provided.

"X stated that the owner was aware he did not have permission to work in the UK and had been telling him for around a year that he needed to leave to avoid causing him trouble.

"Despite this, the owner continued to employ him."

Officers confirmed this man entered the UK on a visit visa valid from June 2013 to June 2015.

He did not make applications for leave to regularise his stay in the UK and never held a right to work.

They also departed the UK in January 2026 using the Voluntary Return Scheme (VRS).

Richmond Council's Licensing Sub-Committee reviewed the premises licence of Twickenham Tandoori yesterday (20 October) and will make a decision in the coming days.

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