A restaurant in Tower Hamlets has been hit with a £135,000 penalty, the largest fine imposed on any of the 20 east London businesses found to have employed illegal workers during the final quarter of last year.
Lahore One Restaurant on Commercial Road received the highest financial punishment in the latest data set published by the government’s Immigration Enforcement team on June 18. The fines cover the period from October 1 to December 31.
Fines by borough
In total, seven businesses in Tower Hamlets were penalised. Alongside Lahore One Restaurant, Mr Wong’s Wok and Box on Mile End Road was fined £120,000 – the joint second-highest figure on the list. Iroiro Ltd on Alie Street and Hello Bubbles on Market Way were each ordered to pay £45,000. Khan’s Clothing on Vesey Path and S.T. Manage Limited on Greatorex Street both received £40,000 fines, while TGF Pizza on Midlothian Road was served a £15,000 penalty.
Redbridge accounted for six of the 20 businesses. M A Builders London Ltd, registered in New North Road, was fined £120,000, matching the second-highest total. Nawal Pure Mithai on High Street was ordered to pay £80,000. Star Fruit & Veg, HFC Express – both on High Road – and Quality Appliances on Green Lane each faced fines of £40,000. A & TK9 Services Limited on Uphall Road was penalised £45,000.
Four businesses in Havering were fined. Masvd Construction on London Road in Romford and Red Contractors on High Street in Hornchurch each received £45,000 penalties. Yogi News and Off License on Mungo Park Road in Rainham was fined £40,000, and White Rose Restaurant on Station Lane in Hornchurch was fined £10,000.
In Barking and Dagenham, only one business appeared on the list: Jay Food and Wine on Broad Street in Dagenham, which was handed a £40,000 penalty.
Newham had a single entry: Thattukada Restaurant on High Street North, fined £31,000.
In Waltham Forest, QWH Drylining Ltd on The Avenue was ordered to pay £40,000.
Government crackdown on illegal working
The penalties are part of a broader government crackdown on businesses that flout immigration rules. Employers who knowingly hire workers without the legal right to work in the UK face serious consequences, including an unlimited fine or a prison sentence of up to five years. Companies can also be held liable if they fail to conduct the necessary right-to-work checks before taking on new staff.
The financial deterrent has become significantly steeper. Since February 13, 2024, the maximum civil penalty for employing an illegal worker has tripled. For a first breach, the fine can reach £45,000 per worker, and for repeat breaches within three years it can be as high as £60,000 per worker. Previously, the maximum was £15,000 for a first offence and £20,000 for subsequent breaches.
When determining the penalty amount, the Home Office considers factors such as whether the employer carried out proper right-to-work checks, any previous penalties, and the level of cooperation with the investigation. Businesses can avoid a civil penalty altogether if they can demonstrate they conducted the required checks before employment began – a defence known as establishing a “statutory excuse.” This involves obtaining, checking, copying, and securely retaining evidence of a worker’s right to work.
Immigration Enforcement teams have intensified their activity in recent years. Between October 2024 and September 2025, over 11,000 enforcement visits were carried out, leading to more than 8,000 arrests. Enforcement efforts are targeting sectors including hospitality, construction, car washes, nail bars, barbers, and delivery services. Businesses that hold a sponsor licence – allowing them to employ foreign workers – are under particular scrutiny, and non-compliance can result in suspension or revocation of that licence.
The Home Office regularly publishes lists of fined businesses, a practice that can cause significant reputational damage. The public is urged to report any suspicions of illegal working anonymously by calling the Immigration Enforcement hotline on 0300 123 7000. Providing details about the business when making a report can also help demonstrate a company’s commitment to immigration compliance during any subsequent investigation.
