An Indian restaurant in the North Somerset village of Bleadon has had its alcohol licence revoked following a serious immigration enforcement investigation a year ago that uncovered illegal workers and unauthorized accommodation on the premises.
In a licensing hearing held by North Somerset Council on April 28, councillors heard that the restaurant, Indian Massala, is now under new ownership. The current owner insists that all employees are legally authorized to work and that there are no residents living above the restaurant. However, the council maintained that there had not been a “significant change” since the previous offences and voted to revoke the premises licence.
The Immigration Compliance and Enforcement (ICE) team’s March 20, 2025 visit revealed “clear indications of labour exploitation.” Officers found five individuals engaged in kitchen, cleaning, and front-of-house roles without permission to work in the UK or in breach of their visa conditions.
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According to testimonies, these workers were unpaid except for one who received “pocket money” and instead were compensated with food and accommodation. Upstairs, six beds were found in three shared bedrooms which were not authorized for residential use, as the space was officially designated for offices.
The company formerly operating the restaurant, Cottage Massala Ltd, was hit with a substantial civil penalty of £135,000 in July 2025 for these violations. The fine remains unpaid and has been forwarded to a debt collection agency.
ICE recommended that the council revoke the restaurant’s premises licence, which permits alcohol sales. Home Office licensing compliance officer Alex Romano emphasized to the committee that the premises had actively enabled criminal labour practices, stating: “Revocation is the appropriate and proportionate outcome.”
New owner Rabiul-Awal Jamal, who acquired the business just five days after the ICE visit, explained that he was unaware of the illegal activities until informed by staff weeks later. He asserted that all current employees have verified legal work status through an accountant.
Representing Mr. Jamal, licensing and safety consultant Abul Azard portrayed him as a dedicated owner committed to compliance and welcomed further inspections by immigration authorities. He appealed to the council to reconsider the licence revocation, stressing the business would struggle without the ability to sell alcohol.
Despite these arguments, the licensing subcommittee chaired by Peter Burden concluded that the licence should be revoked, stating: “We do not believe there has been a significant change in the last year,” citing the evidence presented by the Home Office.