Lebanese Taverna Express licence suspended for one month

Lebanese Taverna Express, located on Fulham Palace Road in Hammersmith, has had its operating licence suspended for one month. The decision was made by Hammersmith and Fulham Council following the discovery of an illegal worker at the premises.

Discovery of illegal worker

Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers visited the restaurant on September 18, 2025, and encountered an individual working as a kitchen porter. This worker told officers he had been hired without any employment checks being carried out. The worker had entered the UK in March 2022 and had his claim for protection withdrawn due to non-compliance. His bail conditions prohibited him from working, yet he confirmed to officers he had been employed for approximately two months prior to the visit, working about 15 hours weekly.

The former licence holder, Shakeeb Mohamed Ayash, admitted to not conducting any pre-employment checks. The Home Office report stated that it is a simple process for employers to verify the necessary documents before hiring staff, adding that an offence can only be committed with the co-operation of a licence holder or their agents. The illegal worker reported being paid £9.50 per hour, which is below the minimum wage of £12.21, with some payments made in cash.

Licence review and conditions

The Home Office had initially sought the revocation of the restaurant's licence. However, the Licensing Sub-Committee opted for a one-month suspension and imposed further conditions. The business, Moezali Ltd, faces a potential £40,000 penalty, which remains unresolved.

The matter was adjourned from an earlier hearing on September 9, 2026, after the current licence holder, Yousef Aga, who took over the business on August 21, 2026, requested a delay. Alexandra Romano, a Home Office Licensing Compliance Officer, stated that revocation was still their request, emphasizing that the review concerned the operation of the business and Mr Ayash's admission of responsibility for recruitment and payment without checks. She noted a lack of credible evidence to suggest a material and effective change since Mr Aga took over.

Saima Rizvi, speaking on behalf of Mr Aga, argued that the conduct in question predated his ownership and that revocation was unnecessary. She stated that steps had been taken to ensure future compliance. In response to questions about why a suspension was not deemed appropriate earlier, Ms Romano expressed concern that it might simply postpone the issue and that there was insufficient evidence of future compliance.

Next steps

The council's decision mandates that Mr Ayash is not to be employed at the premises in any capacity. An online compliance system is to be implemented, and records must be kept to demonstrate that right-to-work checks are completed. The licensing authority has scheduled a visit in two months to review compliance.