Durhan Council Eyes Premises Licence Recission for New Red Lantern, Chester-le-Street, Amid Immigration Violations
Durham County Council will address the operational future of New Red Lantern on Front Street, Chester-le-Street, during its licensing committee meeting on Tuesday (July 22). The case follows successive illegal employment incidents uncovered by Home Office immigration enforcement raids, prompting urgent scrutiny.
On February 8, targeted premises inspections led to two arrests after unlicensed workers were discovered operating the Chinese takeaway. This incident has escalated tensions regarding ongoing workplace compliance failures, with the Home Office citing eight total undocumented employees detected during visits spanning 2019–2025.
Immigration Breaches and Staff Conduct Fuel Licence Review
A damning government report states: “Repeat illegality at New Red Lantern demonstrates systemic neglect of HRD licensing objectives, particularly right-to-work verification protocols.” Officers detailed aggressive opposition from an unnamed worker, described as “unlawful obstruction and physical assault” during inspections.
Staff allegations include deliberate defiance of immigration checks, deliberate employee collusion through verbal evasion signals, and negligence spanning nearly six years. The Home Office has petitioned authorities to revoke the premises’ business licence entirely, calling breaches “intolerable personnel conduct.”
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Licence holder Mr. Song Min He confirmed transferring management to Dhax Limited in 2022 during personal medical difficulties, stating: “I acknowledge responsibilities involved… the tenant agreement with Dhax Limited will terminate permanently.” The parent business previously incurred £28,000 in penalty fines and faces additional sanctions.
New lease arrangements will implement reinforced compliance verification processes, CeaseFire-style checklists, and mandatory HR training to meet Northeast Regional Legal Standards applicable to multi-location food operators.
