Restaurant with illegal workers loses licence

A Chinese restaurant in York has been stripped of its licence after immigration raids found people working there illegally.

A City of York Council licensing and gambling hearing agreed that Sky Blue Chinese restaurant and karaoke bar should lose all parts of its licence, including its ability to serve alcohol and stage music and entertainment.

Councillors heard the venue was visited by immigration officers in July and December 2025, who found two employees who did not have the right to work in the UK.

The decision can be appealed by the restaurant's owners.

Sky Blue had its licence revoked in 2022 following repeated breaches of conditions and an allegation of drinks being spiked.

The licence was reinstated in 2023 following an appeal.

North Yorkshire Police served a closure notice on the restaurant last December and the designated premises supervisor was changed later that month.

The Home Office's application stated putting extra conditions on the restaurant's licence, or suspending it, was not enough following the repeated offences.

It asked that the premises licence be revoked, a request granted by the sub-committee's three members after a hearing which lasted more than three hours.

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