A POPULAR curry house with a chequered past has had its alcohol licence revoked after “extensive failures” in its conduct were identified.
The Indian Tree restaurant in Ringwood’s Market Place will no longer be able to sell alcohol to diners after New Forest District Council (NFDC) ruled there was “a pattern of unacceptable behaviour” relating to the site’s operation.
This comes after more than a decade of instances of illegal workers being found at the premises. In June 2012, several people were found to be working illegally and were arrested.
Six people were arrested for similar offences in April 2015 and four people were identified as illegal workers in March 2016. One person was also found to be working illegally in October 2016.
As heard in NFDC’s licensing sub-committee meeting on March 10, Hampshire Constabulary asked for a review of the premises licence following a joint visit with Home Office immigration enforcement officers on January 12 this year.
Police identified a large number of failings and licence breaches during the visit, including the failure to ensure employees had legal working status.
The sub-committee noted that during the visit, no records of staff checks, staff training or alcohol sales or refusals were made available and that an arrest made during this visit was the 14th arrest for immigration offences at the premises since 2012.
The total amount of penalties issued to Indian Tree for these breaches is £175,000 – with just £2,000 having been paid thus far.
Despite the controversy, the restaurant remains a popular eatery among Ringwood residents and boasts strong reviews online.
Restaurant owner Adib Bacchu did not attend the hearing due to “feeling unwell” but prior to the meeting taking place indicated that he wished to surrender his licence.
While Mr Bacchu did not attend, the committee deemed it necessary in the public interest to hold the hearing.
In removing the licence, the committee said Mr Bacchu had “no regard for the licensing objectives and laws, nor the immigration laws” and said the breaches were “significant and serious”.
As of March 20, Indian Tree has not sold alcohol and now encourages customers to bring their own.
Indian Tree has been approached to comment.
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