The Licensing Sub-Committee of Bexley Council was scheduled to convene on Tuesday, 24 March 2026. The primary item on the agenda was a review of the premises licence for The Darjeeling, a restaurant located in Sidcup.

Review of Premises Licence for The Darjeeling

The meeting was scheduled to consider a review of the premises licence for The Darjeeling, situated at 3 St Johns Parade, Sidcup High Street, Sidcup, Kent DA14 6ES. This review was initiated by the Immigration Enforcement Licensing Compliance Team (Home Office) as a Responsible Authority. The grounds for the review were stated as the prevention of crime and disorder, stemming from an immigration enforcement visit.

The report pack indicated that the Home Office had made an application to review the licence on 26 January 2026, which was initially rejected but a further application was accepted on 27 January 2026. The grounds for this review were specifically related to concerns about illegal working at the premises. The report detailed that the Home Office had encountered two individuals identified as immigration offenders during an enforcement visit on 15 May 2025. The licence holder, Mr Saiful Islam, was reported to have stated that these individuals had been working for the premises for approximately three weeks and were being paid in cash.

The report pack also noted that no representations had been received from other Responsible Authorities or Other Persons in support of the review application. Furthermore, the licence holder, Mr Saiful Islam, had not formally responded to the review application, despite being aware of the meeting.

The Licensing Act 2003 requires licensing authorities to promote four licensing objectives: the prevention of crime and disorder; public safety; the prevention of public nuisance; and the protection of children from harm. The report pack outlined that the Sub-Committee would consider these objectives, along with Bexley's Statement of Licensing Policy and statutory guidance issued under the Licensing Act 2003.

The report pack indicated that the Sub-Committee had several potential steps it could take if it decided to modify the licence. These included modifying the conditions of the licence, excluding a licensable activity, removing the Designated Premises Supervisor, suspending the licence for up to three months, or revoking the licence entirely. The Home Office, as the applicant for the review, had requested that the premises licence be revoked, arguing that merely imposing additional conditions or suspending the licence would be insufficient to deter future non-compliance.

The report pack also included appendices detailing the current premises licence, a plan of the premises, the Home Office's review application, and a human rights assessment. The human rights assessment discussed the applicability of Article 6 (right to a fair hearing) and Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights, noting the need to balance the applicant's right to engage in business with the rights of residents and the community.

The agenda also listed standard procedural items, including the appointment of a Chairman, apologies for absence, and declarations of interests and dispensations. An item for Items of Late Business was also scheduled.