The Licensing Sub-Committee was scheduled to discuss an application to review the premises licence of Ceylon Street Restaurant. This review was prompted by an application from the Home Office following an investigation into alleged illegal working at the premises. The committee was also scheduled to consider the procedure for licensing hearings.

Application to Review the Premises Licence of Ceylon Street Restaurant

The main item scheduled for discussion was an application to review the premises licence for Ceylon Street Restaurant, located at 717-719 High Road, Seven Kings, Ilford, IG3 8RL. The review was initiated by the Home Office (Immigration Enforcement) on 23 January 2026, citing breaches of the licensing objective related to the prevention of crime and disorder. The Home Office alleged that the licence holder, Mr Murukavel Alagarajah, was employing illegal workers at the establishment.

The report pack indicated that the Home Office sought the full revocation of the premises licence. The application was supported by the Licensing Authority, which also recommended revocation. The report detailed the licensable activities authorised by the premises licence, which include the sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises between 11:00 and 23:00 hours, with the premises open to the public until 23:30 hours.

The committee was to consider the options available under Section 52 of the Licensing Act 2003, which include modifying licence conditions, excluding licensable activities, removing the designated premises supervisor, suspending the licence for up to three months, or revoking the licence entirely. The report also referenced the Statutory Guidance issued by the Home Office under Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, particularly concerning reviews and the prevention of crime and disorder.

Additional information was provided in a supplementary agenda, including a warning letter dated 17 March 2026 from Licensing Enforcement Officer Priya Cheema to Mr Alagarajah. This letter detailed alleged breaches of licence conditions observed during an inspection on 17 March 2026, including issues with CCTV coverage and functionality, the absence of required signage, and a lack of an incident book and staff training records.

Procedure for Licensing Hearings

The committee was also scheduled to review the procedure for licensing hearings. This would have provided an overview of the established protocols for conducting such meetings.