The Licensing Sub-Committee of Somerset Council scheduled a meeting for Friday, 5 September 2025, to discuss licensing matters within the region. The agenda included a review of a premises licence and standard administrative items. The meeting was scheduled to be held at the Sedgemoor Room, Bridgwater House, King Square, Bridgwater.

Deluxe Takeaway, 73 High Street, Bridgwater, TA6 3BQ

The central item for consideration was an application to review the premises licence for Deluxe Takeaway, located at 73 High Street, Bridgwater, TA6 3BQ. The application for review was submitted by the Home Office Immigration Enforcement, citing concerns that the licence holder had failed to uphold the licensing objective of preventing crime and disorder. This concern stemmed from the employment of individuals lacking the legal right to work in the UK.

According to the report pack, Home Office Immigration Enforcement conducted a visit to the premises on 1 November 2024. During the visit, they found individuals working at the premises without the necessary legal documentation. Subsequently, a civil penalty of £80,000 was issued to Deluxe Pizza (Bridgwater) Ltd on 10 February 2025, due to the illegal working, and no objections to the penalty were received.

The report pack notes that Immigration Enforcement sought the revocation of the licence, stating that the imposition of additional conditions or a suspension would be insufficient to act as a deterrent to the licence holder.

The Licensing Sub-Committee was to consider several options, including:

• Modifying the licence conditions
• Excluding a licensable activity from the licence
• Removing the designated premises supervisor
• Suspending the licence for a period not exceeding three months
• Revoking the licence

In deciding what steps to take, the Sub-Committee was to consider the application, any relevant representations, guidance issued by the Home Office under section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003, Somerset Council's Statement of Licensing Policy (September 2023), and human rights considerations.

The report pack included representations received regarding the licence. A representation was received from Shivan Twfeek, the new owner of Deluxe Pizza, along with supporting information. A representation was also received from an Avon and Somerset Police Licensing Officer in support of the review application.

According to the representation from Police Alcohol Licensing Officer Nicola Cooper, the previous owner, Ercan Gurlek, had sold the business to Khorshid Tofiq Khorshid in October 2020, but neither party had arranged a transfer of the licence. Nicola Cooper also stated that Khorshid Tofiq Khorshid transferred the licence to his name in November 2024, and was the sole director of Deluxe Kebab Ltd, a company that has since been dissolved. Nicola Cooper also stated that Shivan Twfeek had set up a separate company on 29 November 2024 called Deluxe Pizza Ltd, and that he is the sole director of that company.

Nicola Cooper stated that Deluxe Takeaway had been in breach of their premises licence condition regarding doorstaff, and that Mr TWFEEK has confirmed to me today that they have not employed doorstaff for at least 2 months and therefore, they are operating not as authorised by the premises licence.

Other items

The agenda also included standard items such as:

• Appointment of a Chair for the Sub-Committee
• Apologies for absence
• Declarations of interest
• Authorisation of the chair to sign the minutes of the previous meeting
• Discussion of the procedure to be followed when considering licensing applications under the Licensing Act 2003.