A Stockport restaurant has been stripped of its premises licence after an 'illegal worker' from Albania was found working at the venue.

The man, whose name has been redacted in a public report, entered the UK on a lorry in February 2024 and was 'employed illegally' at Rossini Restaurant in Gatley, based at 191 – 193 Gatley Road. He was discovered by immigration officials during an enforcement visit in June 2025 following a tip off about potential illegal workers.

During a licensing hearing on Thursday (April 23), Stockport council revoked the restaurant's premises licence in light of the situation. The licence allowed the sale of alcohol on and off the premises and indoor late-night refreshments between specific trading hours.

A Home Office official said during the licensing hearing: "When officers attended the premises in June 2025, an individual was encountered working at the premises who did not have the right to work in the United Kingdom.

"He was encountered front of house within the licensed area, dressed in the same manner as other members of staff, and carrying out customer-facing services."

The Albanian man confirmed during an interview that he had been working at the venue for around a week, with duties including clearing tables and greeting customers.

He worked regularly for around three hours each day, and his attendance was arranged 'informally' through existing staff.

The worker was 'not paid wages' but provided with meals for his work, the Home Office said. His uniform was also provided by the venue.

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The man confirmed he was 'never asked to provide any documents' proving his right to work, and that no immigration or right to work checks were carried out.

Renato Bakollari was named as the premises licence holder in the Home Office report. He did not attend the licensing hearing on April 23.

According to the Home Office, Bakollari told immigration officials that he 'sold the company three months ago', and provided details of the new owner, Ylli Vaka.

Mr Vaka 'confirmed his name to immigration officials and that he is the owner of Rossini Restaurant', but that he was 'unaware' of the man considered to be working at the venue illegally.

The Home Office said that responsibility for staff and immigration compliance was 'systematically avoided' at Rossini Restaurant.

The representative at the licensing hearing added: "Illegal working is a criminal offence and a form of facilitation.

"Here, the licensed premises provided the environment in which that criminal conduct took place openly during trading hours, and as part of ordinary business operations."

A 'substantial' civil penalty of £40,000 was issued but has not yet been paid.

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The Home Office argued that the 'illegal' worker's presence at the restaurant was 'sufficient to undermine' the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder.

Councillor Dickie Davies, chair of Stockport council's licensing, environment and safety sub-committee, said: "The sub committee was satisfied that both the premises and licence holder have failed to uphold the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder.

"The sub committee consider that the violations of the licensing objectives have shown a serious lack of concern for the prevention of crime and disorder, and felt that there was no evidence that the licensing objectives would be upheld in future, despite a change in the ownership of the business.

"The sub committee is therefore of a view that in order to promote the four licensing objectives, and in particular the prevention of crime and disorder, it was appropriate and necessary to revoke the premises licence."