Tiger Tavern Pub and Grill in Powis Avenue, Tipton, risks losing its licence after being found employing an illegal worker. Sandwell Council's licensing committee will review the licence on June 25 at the request of Home Office immigration officials.
Illegal Employment and Fine
The pub was fined £45,000 last year for employing a dishwasher who had no right to work in the UK. The fine remains unpaid, and the Home Office has referred the debt to third-party bailiffs for recovery.
During an enforcement visit in August 2025, immigration officers identified a staff member working without lawful right. She had entered the UK on a student visa in 2023 and worked at the pub for about three months, paid around £50 for shifts from 6am to 11pm on Saturdays during private parties.
Owner's Statement and Contradictions
Owner and manager Gurminder Singh told Home Office officials the worker was employed as a dishwasher on the day of the visit, paid £50 to £60 cash in hand for a 5pm to 11pm Saturday shift. He claimed pre-employment checks would have been done by his business partner, but the worker had only started that day.
However, the illegal worker stated she had not been asked for any documentation to prove her right to work, indicating no compliant checks were undertaken. She confirmed being paid £7 per hour cash, significantly below the national minimum wage of £12.21. The Home Office report called this a clear indicator of exploitation.
Additional Violations
Two other staff members present during the inspection were found to be limited to 20 hours per week and also lacked the right to work in the UK. Mr Singh objected to the £45,000 penalty, but after reconsideration, the fine was not withdrawn. The pub had until November last year to appeal, which was not pursued.
The Home Office report stated: “During an enforcement visit to Tiger Tavern Pub & Grill [in] August 2025, immigration officers identified an individual working at the premises without holding the lawful right to do so. The illegal worker stated that she had not been asked to provide any documentation to establish her immigration status or right to work prior to commencing employment, indicating that no compliant right-to-work checks had been undertaken by the employer.”
Statutory Duties and Neglect
The report emphasised that the length of employment is irrelevant to an employer’s statutory duties. A right-to-work check must be carried out before any work begins. The report concluded: “It is an offence for an individual to work when disqualified from doing so, and such conduct can only occur through the involvement or neglect of the employer.”
