Newham Council is scheduled to review the premises licence of Chai Kadai, located at 71 Plashet Road, Plaistow, London, E13 0QA. The review, prompted by concerns over illegal working, is set for discussion at the Licensing (2003 Act) Sub-Committee meeting on Tuesday, 15 July 2025.
The application for the review was submitted by the Home Office Immigration Enforcement to the Council Licensing team on 21 May 2025. The Licensing Team then advertised the application by placing notices near the premises.
The Home Office Immigration Enforcement stated they are permitted to request a review of an existing licence as a responsible authority where there is concern that a licence and related licensable activity is prejudicial to the prevention of immigration crime including illegal working.
The grounds for the review relate to the licensing objective of preventing crime and disorder. The Home Office Immigration Enforcement stated they have grounds to believe that the license holder has failed to meet the licensing objectives of prevention of crime and disorder, as illegal working has been identified at this premises.
The Home Office Immigration Enforcement also noted that Section 36 and Schedule 4 of the Immigration Act 2016 amended the Licensing Act 2003 to introduce immigration safeguards regarding licensing applications made in England and Wales after 6 April 2017, with the intention of preventing illegal working in licensed premises.
According to the reports pack for the meeting, Chai Kadai applied for a licence in 2023 for late-night refreshment only, with the hours of 23:00 to 03:00 Monday to Sunday, and delivery only between 01:00 and 03:00. The opening hours were listed as 12:00 to 01:00 Monday to Sunday. Representations were received at the time from three local residents. The Licensing Sub-Committee addressed these representations at a hearing on November 29, 2023. The committee noted that no Responsible Authority made representations against the application. The residents did not attend the hearing, but the members put their representations to the applicant in the hearing. The committee granted the application, finding that the applicant submitted a good operating schedule and agreed to robust conditions with the Police to ensure that granting of the licence will not undermine the licensing objectives. The decision letter, current premises licence, area plan and street view, and premises plan were attached as appendices to the report.
The Licensing Sub-Committee, including Councillor Tonii Wilson (Chair of Licensing Committee), Councillor Jane Barbara Lofthouse, and Councillor Pushpa Dipaklal Makwana, was asked to consider the review application, representations from the licence holder, and any representations received from responsible authorities and interested parties, and then determine the application.
The agenda for the meeting also included declarations of interest and confirmation of procedure.
