Takeaway's late-night licence under scrutiny after Home Office enforcement visits
Licensing officials in Barnsley will consider whether to revoke the late-night refreshment licence for a takeaway on Manchester Road, Thurlstone, after immigration enforcement officers raised concerns about alleged illegal working and other compliance failings.
The hearing at Barnsley Council's licensing sub-committee is scheduled for Wednesday 19 August. The premises, trading as Pizza Place, has held a licence to provide late-night refreshments since February 2006, permitting hot food and non-alcoholic drinks from 11pm until 12.30am every day. The current premises licence holder is recorded as Mr Haci Ucucu, who took over the licence in June 2025.
According to a report prepared for councillors, officers from the Home Office's North East, Yorkshire and Humber immigration compliance and enforcement (ICE) team visited the premises earlier this year and found two men who did not have the right to work in the UK. A subsequent visit in November reportedly identified one of the same men again working at the premises without the appropriate documentation.
"They have grounds to believe the licence holder has failed to meet the 'prevention of crime and disorder' licensing objective,"
The ICE team says it has "grounds to believe" the licence holder breached the licensing objective linked to the prevention of crime and disorder, citing not only alleged illegal working and failures in right-to-work checks but also concerns about wages and accommodation for workers.
What the review could mean for residents and the business
If the licensing sub-committee determines the premises has not complied with licensing requirements, the panel has powers including revocation of the licence. That would prevent the takeaway from operating during the late-night period covered by its current licence.
- Licence type: Late-night refreshment licence
- Trading hours authorised: 11pm–12.30am, Monday–Sunday
- Licence holder: Mr Haci Ucucu (since June 2025)
- Review trigger: Home Office immigration enforcement application, concerns over illegal working
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Premises | Pizza Place, Manchester Road, Thurlstone |
| Licence start | February 2006 |
| Next review | 19 August (licensing sub-committee) |
Local residents and nearby businesses may see consequences if the licence is revoked. A revocation would curtail late-night food provision from the premises and could signal closer scrutiny of other licensed takeaways in Barnsley when enforcement agencies raise compliance concerns. Conversely, if the sub-committee imposes conditions rather than revocation, the premises could be required to strengthen right-to-work checks and other compliance measures.
Licensing hearings of this nature consider evidence from the applicant for review — in this case the Home Office — alongside representations from the licence holder and any other interested parties. The legal test for action under the Licensing Act focuses on whether the licensing objectives have been undermined; here enforcement officers have specifically cited the prevention of crime and disorder.
Barnsley Council's licensing sub-committee will be asked to weigh the enforcement report, which details the visits and the findings regarding individuals present who did not possess the right to work, and to decide whether the findings amount to sufficient cause to revoke or vary the licence, or apply other measures.
No hearing outcome is available at present. The decision on 19 August will determine whether the Pizza Place's ability to serve late-night refreshments continues unchanged, is subject to stricter conditions, or is ended for the hours covered by the licence.
