The Licensing Sub-Committee convened to consider an application by The Greek Table Ltd for a new premises licence. The application sought to authorise the sale of alcohol for consumption on and off the premises, late night refreshment, and recorded music at The Greek Table at 39 North Street, Carshalton. After hearing representations from interested parties and reviewing the application, the sub-committee deferred its decision.

Here's a breakdown of the key discussion points:

Licence Application for The Greek Table, 39 North Street, Carshalton

The sub-committee considered an application for a new premises licence for The Greek Table, 39 North Street, Carshalton, SM5 2HG. The applicant, The Greek Table Ltd, sought permission to:

• Sell alcohol for consumption on and off the premises from 11:00 to midnight daily.
• Provide late night refreshment from 23:00 to midnight daily.
• Play recorded music from 11:00 to 23:00 daily.

The Committee Report - The Greek Table stated that the Metropolitan Police and the Pollution - Noise Team initially raised concerns regarding the application, but these were addressed through amendments to the operating schedule, detailed in Appendix 3 - Conditions Arising From Applicants Operating Schedule.

Five representations from other parties were received, raising concerns related to:

• Prevention of crime and disorder
• Public safety
• Prevention of public nuisance
• Protection of children from harm

These representations are detailed in the document Appendix 4 Redacted Representations From Other Parties.

Key points from those objecting to the licence included:

• Existing late-night disturbances from a nearby pub.
• Alleged breaches of licensing regulations by The Greek Table, including serving alcohol and operating late without a licence.
• Concerns about noise and antisocial behaviour.
• Potential impact on the quality of life for residents, particularly those living in close proximity to the premises.
• The potential for increased crime and disorder, and public disturbance.
• The impact of noise from the premises on a vulnerable adult residing above the premises.
• The proximity of the premises to local schools and a church.
• Concerns about smoking outside the premises and the disposal of cigarette ends.
• Potential intimidation by drunk patrons.

The applicant's operating schedule included proposed measures to address the licensing objectives, such as CCTV, restaurant conditions, restrictions on external areas, and age verification policies. These are detailed in Appendix 3 - Conditions Arising From Applicants Operating Schedule.

The sub-committee considered the Secretary of State's Guidance and Sutton's Statement of Licensing Policy, which outline the licensing objectives and the need to consider each application on its own merits.

Ultimately, the sub-committee deferred making a decision on the application.

Review of Premises Licence for New Golden Gate, 18 Stonecot Hill, Sutton, SM3 9HE

A prior meeting of the Licensing Sub-Committee on 5 August 2025, minuted in the Minutes 05082025 Licensing Sub-Committee was held to review the premises licence for New Golden Gate, 18 Stonecot Hill, Sutton, SM3 9HE. The application for review was submitted by the Home Office Immigration Enforcement Licensing Compliance Team (IELCT) on the grounds of failing to uphold the licensing objective 'The Prevention of Crime and Disorder' due to the identification of illegal working at the premises.

The Licensing Officer informed the Sub-Committee that the premises currently benefited from a licence which was originally granted in 2005, and transferred to the current licence holder in February 2017, permitting:

• Late Night Refreshment:
  • Sunday: 23:00- 23:30
  • Monday to Saturday: 23:00- 00:00
• Supply of Alcohol - Retail:
  • Monday to Saturday: 12:00 -00:00
  • Sunday: 12:00 23:30
  • Christmas Day: 12:00- 15:00 and 19:00 23:20
  • Good Friday: 12:00 23:30

The Home Office Immigration Enforcement Licensing Compliance Team (IELCT) stated that:

• The use of illegal workers who remained unlawfully in the UK at the premises breaks UK Immigration law.
• Visits to premises by Home Office Immigration staff are intelligence led.
• The Immigration team follow a process when carrying out visits to premises and following a visit a Licence Holder would be provided with information about how to check a person's employment status in the UK.
• The use of illegal workers could be prevented by following the Home Office Guidance on employment checks.
• Right to Work checks should be made by employers, employers are able to do this using the free Home Office Right to Work check system on the gov.uk website¹
• Following visits by the Immigration team there were processes in place to support Licence Holders before an application to review a licence was sought.
• Use of illegal workers under cuts legitimate businesses for example by paying low wages and other labour market abuses such as not paying taxes or national minimum wage
• Visits by the Immigration team on 9 April 2024 after intelligence was received and two illegal workers were observed. On 4 September 2024 a further visit was carried out and three illegal workers were observed working at the premises
• A further visit by Immigration team on 31 July 2025 observed two illegal workers, one person was noted to be the same person as had been seen at previous visits
• The evidence provided showed that illegal workers had been observed on more than one occasion
• The Director was present at the premises during the Immigration team's visits, and could have taken action following the visit in April 2024
• Some of the workers only received free food and accommodation for their work, an example of exploitation of vulnerable people
• A civil penalty fine of £90k had been imposed on the business of which £500 had been paid to date
• Requests for a review of a Premises Licence are only made by Immigration team when they have heightened concerns
• The illegal worker is committing a crime and is liable to up to 6 months' imprisonment. Use of the premises for employing disqualified workers is a crime, and is included in paragraph 11.27 of the Secretary of State's Guidance issued under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, as criminal activity which should be treated particularly seriously and that revocation in the first instance should be seriously considered
• Suspension of the current Licence or changing the Designated Premises Supervisor would not promote the Licensing Objectives.
• Enforcement visits are intelligence led. An application for a review is a last resort as it is understood the business is their livelihood but there is no option when they do not listen.

The Licence Holder's representative stated that:

• The management of the premises do not deny the allegations made by the Home Office Immigration team in 2024
• The visit of 31 July 2025 by the Immigration team was not supported by details such as how the the people observed were working and what they were doing, therefore the Licence Holder and owner refuted this allegation
• One of the people observed by the Immigration team was helping in return for accommodation and meals
• In 2024 the Licence Holder and the owner were not aware of the requirements related to completing employment checks to ensure illegal workers were not employed at the premises
• The Licence Holder and owner lacked training in completing employment checks
• The Licence Holder and owner were willing to undertake training, and would be able to learn
• Strict monitoring in the future would avoid further errors of this sort
• Training would be carried out in the future and an offer of bi-annual inspection by Licensing Officers
• Rigorous checks had now been completed of all workers, and any unauthorised workers have been terminated
• The errors in employment of illegal workers at the premises was a result of ignorance of the owner and Licence Holder rather than intent
• The Licence Holder and the Owner admit the allegations by the Immigration Team in 2024 and were very remorseful about their errors
• Revocation of the Licence is disproportionate and not in the public interest, and lesser sanction would be more proportionate, such as suspending the Licence
• The premises is the sole income for the owner and his family and revoking the Premises License would result in hardship
• The Licensing Objectives relating to the sale of alcohol had not been undermined
• There had been no complaints about the premises over many years, the premises has met all standards
• The Licence Holder and the owner are aware that ignorance does not make employment of illegal workers lawful
• The Licence Holder was an investor in the premises and not the owner.

The Sub-Committee decided to REVOKE the premises licence, stating that:

The Sub-Committee considered that no lesser steps would serve to uphold the licensing objective of the Prevention of Crime and Disorder which had seriously been undermined on repeated occasions. The Premises Licence Holder had had at least two opportunities to ensure the position was but had failed to do so. It was of grave concern that the same illegal worker was found to be working at the premises on three separate occasions.