Popular Chelsea restaurant hit with six-figure fine for hiring illegal workers

Seven people were found to be illegally working at a West London noodle bar during a Home Office immigration raid.

The unauthorised employees, who were paid cash in hand, made up over half of the staff members found working at the Chelsea Vietnamese restaurant, Phat Phuc.

Business Owner Joo Yeow was hauled in front of a Kensington and Chelsea Licensing hearing, initiated by the Home Office, on Thursday, September 9.

Immigration Enforcement representative Jack Fortune told the hearing that revoking the business licence was the “appropriate and proportionate response”.

Illegal workers had been employed at Phat Phuc for up to five years, with several claiming that Mr Yeow was aware of their immigration status, Mr Fortune said.

The Home Office decided to slap the business with a total of £280,000 in fines following the raid on June 19 last year.

“The evidence demonstrates the long-standing working arrangements, direct management control, failures in ‘right to work’ checking and a pattern of non-compliance extending across multiple members of staff,” said Mr Fortune.

Mr Yeow, 71, said that his business was now fully compliant with immigration regulations.

Despite initially contesting the fine, he has since cleared his civil penalty in full – at a discounted fast-track sum of £196,000.

“This is my first offence, of course, we try to comply with every regulation we can. Our business is a family business,” he told the hearing.

Mr Yeow said that in some cases, workers had pleaded with him to allow them to carry on working at the restaurant while they waited for their immigration applications to take place.

Three of the seven illegal workers have since gained ‘right to work’ status within the UK, he said.

Since the raid, the business has run 50 right to work checks on staff members, the hearing was told. “Between 20 and 30” employees now work at the noodle bar, many on a part-time basis due to their immigration status work regulations.

Mr Yeow said that he has been trying to catch up with modern technology. His son Daniel and an employed accountant now help him to keep the business fully compliant.

A Home Office report reads: “On 19 June 2025, the Central London Immigration, Compliance and Enforcement (ICE) team visited Phat Phuc Noodle Bar, 250 Kings Road after intelligence was received that the business owner was employing illegal workers.

“Entry to the premises was gained at approximately 13:04hrs under Section 179 of the Licensing Act 2003. Within the premises, officers encountered eleven individuals, seven of whom were identified as working illegally.”

A decision will be made by the Licensing Sub-Committee within five working days of the hearing.

The restaurant has a 4.5 rating on Tripadvisor, with customers praising it for its “amazing food”, “great atmosphere” and “excellent value”.