Updated 23/8/24
Following a hearing, Royal China has now lost its licence. This means that while the restaurant can remain open and serve food, it can no longer serve alcohol or open beyond 11pm. What this means for the future of the restaurant remains to be seen. Only the Baker Street branch has been affected.
Original story follows
One successful police raid might be considered unlucky. The second might make a case for reconsidering one's employment procedure. But a third visit by immigration enforcement resulting in yet more arrests may prove to be the final straw for popular London restaurant Royal China.
A document released this week by Westminster Council as background to an application to revoke the restaurant's premises licence turns out to be quite the page-turner. Quotes like "This premises appears to be operating with a complete disregard for the law and the licensing objectives" are just the start of it.
The nub is that the restaurant has now been found to be in breach of immigration laws following three visits by immigration enforcement officers. The scene painted by the council is one of sheer chaos with the arrival of officers promoting a mass exodus with "staff running through the restaurant and discarding their uniform". In another visit "8 staff members attempted to escape from the premises via a lift at the rear loading area."
In one memorable incident retold, the fire alarm is tripped - "In the commotion one Chinese female who had admitted to entering the United Kingdom illegally managed to escape. The fire brigade attended and informed the officer in charge that there had been no fire and that the fire alarm had been pressed by someone inside the restaurant."
In the brutally frank wording of the application "Royal China is currently the worst licensed premises in Westminster that we are dealing with for illegal working." All this hasn't come cheap either - it's already had to pay a whopping £110,000 in fines so far.
The restaurant, which would be 30 years old next year, has the next few weeks to build up an argument for retaining its licence. But we fear they're going to have to come up with something pretty compelling.
More about Royal China
Where is it? 24-26 Baker Street, London W1U 3BZ
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @royalchinagroupuk
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