A popular Windsor restaurant is facing the prospect of losing its licence after immigration enforcement officers discovered three individuals working there without the legal right to do so, prompting a £135,000 penalty that remains unpaid. The case, now heading before local councillors, raises significant questions about employer responsibilities, compliance culture, and the broader pressures shaping the UK’s hospitality sector.
Plate at No. 6, located in Windsor’s Market Place, was raided by Home Office Immigration Enforcement officers in February 2025 following intelligence suggesting that unauthorised workers were being employed on-site. According to papers submitted ahead of a Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead licensing sub-committee meeting later this week, Home Office officials concluded that the workers had been engaged “by negligence or wilful blindness” on the part of the restaurant’s management.
The Workers Union has long emphasised the importance of lawful and safe employment practices across the UK — and this case illustrates the very real consequences when those practices fail. For many hospitality workers, compliance failures can undermine confidence in working environments already fraught with instability, unpredictable hours, and acute labour shortages.
Details of the workers involved
The three individuals discovered during the inspection came from varying backgrounds, but all were found to be in breach of immigration rules at the time of the raid.
The first worker, a man from South Sudan, had entered the UK via a small boat in 2022 and later applied for asylum. Both his initial claim and subsequent appeal were refused in 2024, leaving him without the right to work. He was employed to set tables and perform cleaning duties inside the restaurant.
A second individual, working in the kitchen, had repeatedly attempted to secure permission to remain in the country under the EU Settlement Scheme. Those applications were also unsuccessful, and he too was found to be working illegally.
The third worker, responsible for washing dishes, arrived legally in the UK under a visitor visa that was valid between September 2022 and March 2023. After overstaying the visa, multiple applications to extend his stay were rejected.
For UK workers, especially those employed in lower-paid sectors, these cases highlight the critical necessity of lawful hiring procedures. Where due diligence is absent, staff may face unsafe working environments or unfair competition created by unlawful employment practices.
Council committee to assess licence revocation
Ahead of Friday’s hearing, officials from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead confirmed that the restaurant’s parent company has not paid the £135,000 civil penalty and that debt recovery agents have now been instructed to pursue the outstanding amount.
The licensing and public space protection order sub-committee will review the Home Office’s request to revoke the premises licence. While the licence currently enables the venue to sell alcohol, that permission can be withdrawn if the operator is found to be failing to uphold mandatory licensing objectives, including preventing crime and disorder. Employing staff unlawfully is considered a direct breach of those conditions.
The owner of Plate at No. 6 was approached for comment but has not provided a response.
A wider issue for the hospitality sector
For many UK workers, this case echoes broader concerns across hospitality — a sector where high turnover, staffing shortages, and financial pressures can create incentives for risky employment practices. When businesses cut corners, it is often frontline workers who pay the price through unstable workplaces, lost opportunities, or reduced trust in lawful employers.
The Workers Union continues to call for strong compliance, fair treatment for all workers, and a labour market that protects legitimate jobs while ensuring that employers understand and meet their legal obligations. As the council prepares to deliver its verdict this week, UK hospitality workers will be watching closely to see how enforcement actions shape expectations for workplace standards going forward.
