Curry house 'stored alcohol in a bucket in disabled toilet'

28 October 2023 , 09:12

614     0

Curry house 'stored alcohol in a bucket in disabled toilet' (Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)

A curry house 'stored alcohol in a bucket in disabled toilet' despite being banned from selling alcohol.

Indian restaurant Posh Spice had its licence revoked after an immigration row meaning it was not allowed to sell alcohol or sell hot food after 11pm. Ashequl Bari Numan, the restaurant’s 'new owner' applied for a new licence, but police licensing officer Andy Manhire said the operation was a front.

SomersetLive reports one visit to the restaurant alcohol was still on display in Posh Spice despite it not having a licence. Mr Manhire said: “Stuck in a bucket in the disabled toilet was about ten bottles of spirits with the labels still on.” It was suggested to him they were put there while redecorating was going on, but he warned that anyone — including children — who used the toilet would have had unsupervised access to the alcohol.

Home Office Imigration Enforcement officers raid Indian Restaurant Posh Spice in Nailsea, North Somerset, (PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)

When asked for proof of his ownership, Mr Numan was not able to produce any and sent a document the day after that conversation. The food company registered for the premises also lists a Mohammed Iqbal Miah as a director alongside Mr Numan. Mr Manhire said Mohammed Iqbal Miah had denied being any connection to Golap Miah. When he pointed out that they had both been convicted together in 2014 — Mohammed Iqbal Miah said there had been so many defendants he did not know Golap Miah.

'I tried the delicious allplants x Rachel Ama collection and would pay double in a restaurant'

Dr Michael Mosley shares exercise that can cut cholesterol and blood pressure

But North Somerset Council’s food and commercial safety service leader Jane Day said she had dealt with both men and their restaurants since 2003, told Mr Manhire they were brothers. Councillor Mike Solomon said; “So it went from him not knowing him, to being involved in a court case together, to being his biological brother?”

Immigration officers at Posh Spice where booze was stored in a bucket in the restaurant's disabled toilet (PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)

Mr Manhire said Mohammed Iqbal Miah had claimed he was listed as a director of the food company by mistake, but councillors questioned how this would be possible. Manhire also said: “On the last visitation, there were these two illegal workers located there. Mr Numan was, by his own admission, 100% in charge then.”

When Posh Spice’s licence was revoked in April, the hearing almost fell apart after immigration enforcement did not attend the hearing, Council officers said: “He was aware that the hearing was going ahead; he was sent the notice of hearing; he responded to the notice of hearing.”

Giving judgement, councillor Stuart Davies said: “It’s alarm bells ringing. He said: “We feel that the spirits stored in the ice bucket in the disabled toilet is something that’s totally unacceptable. [ We are also aware that there was alcohol on the premises that was being displayed and there was two bottles that were open and kept in the fridge.”

He added that they had “no evidence whatsoever of ownership” and were not satisfied that Mohammed Iqbal Miah would not have a role in running the business. Mr Numan will have 21 days to appeal the decision.

Graeme Murray