AN attempt by immigration enforcement to strip an Indian restaurant of its licence almost fell apart after they did not send anyone to the hearing.

Immigration enforcement called a review of Posh Spice in Nailsea’s licence to sell alcohol and late night food, after an immigration raid in February found three individuals who had been found working there illegally in June 2022 still working at the restaurant.

But the hearing before North Somerset Council’s licensing subcommittee on April 17 quickly descended into chaos when nobody from immigration enforcement was sent to attend.

The restaurant’s licence was eventually revoked — but only after the meeting was suspended for over an hour while council staff tried to get in touch with immigration.

Jasmine Miah — daughter of premises licence holder Golap Miah — said that the long wait in the corridor left her father, who has high blood pressure, recently had a minor stroke, and was fasting for Ramadan, feeling “anxious.”

Speaking while waiting for the meeting to resume, she said: “I don’t want any pressure on him, whatever the outcome.”

At the start of the meeting, a statement from immigration enforcement had been read out, but when Ms Miah challenged their claims and presented what she said was evidence of the individuals’ right to work, she was told those were issues to raise with immigration enforcement, not the licensing subcommittee.

Ms Miah said: “We were expecting the immigration officers to attend.”

Chair of the licensing subcommittee Andy Coles said: “But surely the home office immigration will know all this information you have passed on and they don’t accept it?”

But turning to Mr Coles, subcommittee member Mike Solomon told him: “There’s a lot we don’t know because we don’t have immigration here. That’s what worries me.”

After the chaotic start, and the more than hour-long suspension, the meeting continued with Jonathan Watson of immigration enforcement joining by video link. Mr Watson had not attended the raid of the restaurant, but said he had access to all the information.

Mr Watson confirmed that none of the three individuals had the right to work at the restaurant at the time of the February 2023 raid — although one had been granted it three weeks later.

The individual had attended a hearing earlier in February, where he had been successful in getting leave to remain in the UK, but this was not officially issued until March — after he had already been found working at the restaurant. Ms Miah said that he had been told at the hearing he could work.

Another individual had previously been allowed to work for 20 hours a week as a student, but this had been revoked as he was not enrolled to study, and the other had the right to work in some professions, where there are shortages of workers, but not at a restaurant.

After a five minute break to make their decision, Mr Coles said: “The committee has decided to revoke your licence based on the evidence we have heard from immigration.”

The revocation of the licence means that Posh Spice will no longer be able to sell alcoholic drinks or, after 11pm, serve hot food.

It is Mr Miah’s intention to allow customers to bring their own wine to the restaurant.