A BAR and grill could be stripped of its licence after two raids by immigration officials found its workers were in the country illegally.

Oldham’s licensing committee is due to review the premises licence of Chadderton Bar and Grill in a hearing next week.

Documents submitted to the town hall reveal that the application for review was made by the Home Office immigration enforcement department, who are calling on the venue to have its licence revoked under the grounds of "prevention of crime and disorder".

Officials had raided the Middleton Road venue first in April, 2016 after receiving intelligence it was employing illegal workers.

On that occasion they found two staff members were working illegally, including one who was a director and co-owner of the business.

“He had no permission to be in the UK as his visa had expired,” the report states. “As such he had no permission to work.”

A civil penalty of £10,000 was served on the business for employing illegal workers, which has still not been paid, officers say.

After receiving further intelligence that illegal working was taking place at the premises, another visit was conducted on August 31 last year.

On that occasion immigration officials again found that there were two people working illegally, one of which was the director and co-owner of the business who had been encountered previously.

He still did not have permission to work in the UK at this point, the report states.

Following the visit, a closure notice was served on the restaurant.

The business was shut down the following day when immigration enforcement attended court and obtained a "compliance order" putting in place conditions for carrying out staff checks, the report adds.

In the submission by the Home Office to Oldham council, it states that they have grounds to believe that the license holder will not be able to meet their licensing objectives.

“In light of the two persons found working illegally during both visits to the premises, and in particular to the fact that one of the illegal workers encountered during both visits was the co-owner and director of the business, and was in the UK illegally, it is the view of the Home Office immigration enforcement that the operation of this premises licence is failing to meet the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder,” says the Home Office.

The licensing committee will rule on the application on Tuesday, January 22 at Oldham council’s Civic Centre.