To review the licence of Mem’s Mezze, Halfway House, Halfway Road, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 3AU.

The Licensing Team Leader introduced the report which asked Members to consider a review of premises licence under the Licensing Act 2003 at Mem’s Mezze, Halfway House, Halfway Road, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 3AU.

The Chair invited the Home Office Immigration Enforcement officer to present his case.

The Home Office Immigration officer said that the premises was visited by the Home Office in January 2025, and during the visit discovered that there were three illegal workers at the address. At the time of the visit the Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) was not running the business hands on, but was an experienced licence holder and knew the responsibilities of running a business in line with the licensing law.

The Chair invited Members and the Senior Lawyer Contentious to ask questions.

The Chair invited the Respondent to present their case.

Mr Gary Grant, the Respondent’s barrister, addressed the sub-committee and said that Ms Elvin Akis, his client, was an experienced Licence holder in Swale for more than 20 years and was currently operating a successful off-licence in Sheerness, Isle of Sheppey. Mr Grant said that his client was not the employer of the illegal workers at the time of the visit. Ms Akis, had agreed a lease with Mr Erhan Delikitas to carry out the day-to-day tasks of the business as she was focusing on other businesses and her family. Upon agreeing the lease, Ms Akis was advised by a firm of solicitors to remain the DPS even though she was not running the day-to-day activities at the premises. Ms Akis now recognises that this was a mistake and she should have given full responsibility to Mr Delikitas when he took over the lease.

Mr Grant pointed out to Members that before the Home Office had instigated the Review, Ms Akis had instructed Paradigm Solicitors to terminate Mr Deliklitas’ lease in March 2025 as she had discovered he had employed illegal immigrants to work at the premises. Currently, Ms Akis and her partner were in full operational control of the business.

Mr Grant referred to a number of character references that proved his client was a trustworthy person and referred to the Independent Licensing review carried out by Adrian Studd who did not find Ms Akis to be responsible for the employment of illegal immigrants.

Mr Grant read out some conditions to propose to the sub-committee for consideration. These included:

a.    Mr. Erhan Deliklitas shall not be permitted to work at the premises, either directly or indirectly.

b.    All right to work checks of employees shall be the responsibility of the licence holder.

c.    For a period of no less than 18 months, the licence holder shall arrange for independent professional inspections of the premises without warning at least once every 3 months. The inspector shall check compliance with licence conditions and confirm the right to work of all employees and make a written report after each visit. These reports shall be kept at the premises and made available for inspection on the request of an authorised officer of a Responsible Authority. 

The Chair invited Member and the Senior Lawyer Contentious to ask questions.

The Chair asked Home Office Immigration Officer to summarise his closing remarks.

The Chair asked the Respondent to summarise her closing remarks.

Members of the Sub-Committee adjourned at 11.25 am to make their decision.

Members of the Sub-Committee, the Senior Lawyer Contentious returned to the meeting at 11.55 am and the decision, attached as Appendix I to these minutes, was announced.

Resolved:

(1)     The Sub-Committee imposed additional conditions as set out in the decision notice on the premises licence and a written warning be issued to Elvin Akis.