Wolverhampton Nightclub Loses Licence After Employing Illegal Worker
A restaurant and nightclub in Wolverhampton has had its licence revoked by the City of Wolverhampton Council following a hearing that revealed the employment of an illegal worker as a chef. Calif Bar, located on Stafford Street, faced the decision after a licensing subcommittee determined the owner showed a total lack of compliance with rules and regulations.
Details of the Licensing Hearing
The hearing, held on Wednesday, April 8, centered on an incident in 2025 where the Home Office's immigration enforcement officers discovered that owner Isi Lucky Idahor had employed a chef without the legal right to work in the UK. The woman, who was arrested during an inspection, had held a valid visiting visa from September 2007 to March 2008 but did not return when it expired and never had authorization to work in the country.
During the hearing, chair Cllr Zee Russell stated that Mr. Idahor appeared to have no idea about the process for checking workers' right to work in the UK. This led to a £45,000 fine from the Home Office, which remains unpaid, contributing to the club's financial troubles.
Financial and Legal Consequences
Mr. Idahor informed the committee that he had placed Calif Bar into liquidation in September of the previous year due to an inability to pay the £45,000 fine, as well as a separate £14,000 fine from magistrates for breaching hygiene standards in 2022. The hygiene breaches involved an active cockroach infestation, dirty crockery and surfaces, poor washing facilities, and untrained staff, as found by environmental health officers during a routine inspection.
Rob Edge, representing the bar owner, argued at the hearing that revoking the licence would be disproportionate and unfair. He suggested that suspending the licence instead would mark the seriousness of the breach, act as a deterrent, and allow for continued operation under improved systems. However, the council rejected this, citing the owner's unfitness to run the venue.
Contradictions and Enforcement Actions
Immigration officers inspected the club in May of the previous year, where the unnamed staff member provided false personal details. She later admitted to working as a chef for about a year, three hours a day, once or twice a week, in exchange for food and £40, without providing any ID or documents regarding her right to work. Mr. Idahor contradicted this, claiming she had worked for only two months on an irregular basis and that he had seen a page from her passport but was unaware of her illegal status.
West Midlands Police supported the Home Office's call to revoke the licence, stating that the premises were totally complicit in employing an illegal worker, seemingly to maximize profits at the expense of licensing objectives. This case highlights ongoing issues with compliance and enforcement in the hospitality sector.
The revocation underscores the council's commitment to upholding licensing laws and ensuring businesses operate within legal frameworks, particularly in matters of employment and public safety.
