A Caribbean bar and kitchen in Reading has been forced to suspend activities after a woman was caught illegally working there.
Dolphin’s Caribbean restaurant and bar opened in April last year in the town centre, at the former site of the 7Bone burger restaurant at St Mary’s Butts.
The business, owned by Randolph Bancroft, sells food and alcohol and hosts entertainment which is allowed through its premises licence.
But the business owner got in trouble with Reading Borough Council and Home Office immigration enforcement for hiring a woman from the Caribbean island of Grenada who allegedly does not have the right to work in the UK.
The council’s licensing team therefore applied for a review of the licence, which was determined at a meeting.
The woman arrived in the UK in April 2022 as a tourist, has claimed asylum and is currently awaiting a decision on her immigration status.
Bill Donne, a licensing representative appointed by Dolphin’s, explained that she had initially begun studies at Reading College and then went to New Directions College, an adult learning centre owned and managed by Reading council.
He claimed she began work at Dolphin’s through work experience organised by New Directions, with the business erroneously understanding that right to work checks had been conducted by the college.
It was implied that her work experience was organised by a woman at New Directions whose husband is an investor in the business.
Mr Donne replied that the woman was hired under the previous operations manager, who has been replaced by Nicole Pither, who was present at the meeting.
Dolphin’s was also accused of staying open past 3am during a special event at the end of January, allowed through a temporary event notice (TEN).
Mr Donne argued that licenseable activities had finished, as people spotted in the bar were finishing drinks and listening to ‘background music’.
Disputing that, licensing officer Mike Harding said: “We walked past at 3.10am, we were aware the TEN finished at 3am.
“Yes, there was music still going, we didn’t go inside.
“In my opinion it was very much music at entertainment level, if we hadn’t walked past, it wouldn’t have stopped.
“The security staff literally ran inside, then the music stopped.
“While the lights were on, they were not turned up all the way up.”
Council officers also claimed security staff had failed to present their badges on request.
Mr Donne replied that a new security team has been contracted.
The council’s licensing applications sub-committee decided to suspend the licence for 14 days at the meeting on Thursday, June 11.
While the business cannot sell alcohol or host entertainment for this period, it will remain open.
The decision was made by councillors Paul Woodward (Labour, Church), Micky Leng (Labour, Whitley) and Louise Keane (Green, Katesgrove).
Cllr Woodward, the chair of the committee, said: “Whilst there have been serious management failings, efforts have been made to promote the licensing objectives through the appointment of a new operations manager and a security company.
“This has satisfied us to be able to take an exceptional course that does not require revocation.
“I would use this time to make sure new processes are embedded and promote the licensing objectives.
“Get your processes and administration in order. For TENs, you need to be much more careful.
“You have made progress, but really have a long, hard look at what you are doing and where you need to be in the future.”
The council’s licensing applications sub-committee decided to suspend the licence for 14 days at the meeting on Thursday, June 11.
This means that the business cannot sell alcohol or host entertainment for this period.
