THE Home Office has pushed for a town centre restaurant’s licence to be reviewed amid claims of ‘illegal working’.

Barrow Indian Cuisine is facing allegations that it failed to prevent crime and disorder ‘as illegal working has been identified at this premises’.

The application to review the licence of the restaurant, which closed its doors last year, was made by the Home Office’s immigration enforcement team, according to a public notice.

According to the government department, immigration enforcement officers and officers from the Cumbria police licensing team visited the Cavendish Street restaurant on October 15.

Barrow Indian Cuisine was served with an illegal working referral notice for the employment of three members of staff – Bangladeshi nationals – who the Home Office says have no permission to work in the UK.

The business may be liable for a civil penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker if it cannot prove that the correct Right to Work checks have been conducted.

In the application for the restaurant’s alcohol licence to be reviewed, the Home Office said: “We have grounds to believe the licence holder has failed to meet the licensing objectives of prevention of crime and disorder, as illegal working has been identified at this premises.

“Section 36 and Schedule 4 of the Immigration Act 2016 amended the Licensing Act 2003 to introduce immigration safeguards in respect of licensing applications made in England and Wales on or after 6 April 2017.

“The intention is to prevent illegal working in premises licensed for the sale of alcohol or late-night refreshment.”

The Home Office application named Rubel Miah as the holder of the licence.

The Mail has attempted to contact the bosses who ran Barrow Indian Cuisine.

They announced that the business was to close at the end of October 2020 saying the business had fallen behind with its rent following the ‘financial hit’ caused during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Home Office said the local licensing authority confirmed on February 25 that the premises licence holder had surrendered the licence and ceased trading, but this was received after the review had already been initiated.

The department said the review was initiated to prevent illegal working and to act as a deterrent to the licence holder and other premises’ licence holders from engaging in criminal activity.

The restaurant and takeaway opened in January 2020 to positive reviews having replaced another Indian eatery, Bangla Lounge.

Bosses of the business expressed regret over the closure and thanked customers for their support.

According to a notice published by Barrow Council, any person, including the business owner, intending to have their say on the application should respond by March 24.

Councillors could then meet to decide what action to take.