Takeaway boss denies insult as he seeks late licence in Brighton

Company Director Denies Insulting Council Official

A company director denied calling a council licensing official a “jobsworth” during an enforcement visit when a takeaway was found trading after 11pm.

Licensing Application Details

Since the licensing visit in November, the Sushi Co, located at 65 Western Road, Brighton, has applied for an alcohol licence from 11am to 11pm daily. It also applied for a late-night refreshment licence to sell hot food and drink for delivery only from 11pm to 3am.

Panel Hearing Insights

At a Brighton and Hove City Council licensing panel hearing on Wednesday, January 7, Haran Thushiharan, head of operations at Sushi Co, stated that company director Varanand Sama, 41, denied making the insulting comment to council licensing official Donna Lynsdale during the licensing visit two months ago.

Details of the Enforcement Visit

Ms. Lynsdale informed the panel of three councillors—Ivan Lyons, Ollie Sykes, and Alison Thomson—that she visited the Sushi Co’s premises with Sussex Police. They arrived after 11pm on Friday, November 7, in response to reports that the business was trading without a late-night refreshment licence.

Findings During the Visit

The council and police checked the business’s website and food delivery apps, finding various opening hours listed, with deliveries available until either 3am or 4am on weekends. Staff in the kitchen told officers they were open until 3am and serving hot food.

Communication with Management

A staff member called his boss, believed to be Mr. Sama, and passed the phone to Ms. Lynsdale. The man on the phone claimed he could provide 20 percent of his hot food without a licence, which Ms. Lynsdale stated was incorrect. She repeated that he could not trade without a late-night licence and would send a warning. Mr. Sama allegedly called her a jobsworth before ending the call.

Concerns About Compliance

Ms. Lynsdale expressed a lack of confidence in the business management to comply with the proposed licence or any conditions. Licensing officer Mark Thorogood from Sussex Police stated that the force could not support the application due to concerns about the management’s understanding of licensing requirements.

Response to Warning Issued

A warning was issued to the company on Monday, November 10, but no response was received until Tuesday, December 9, after the licence application was submitted. Mr. Thorogood noted that the company had broken promises to update its opening times and not to trade after 11pm without a late-night licence.

Continued Violations

Mr. Thorogood found that the takeaway’s hours were still advertised until 3am on Google and the Sushi Co’s website. After the warning was issued, police found the business open after midnight on Sunday, December 14. Staff were seen preparing food but claimed it was going out cold.

New Year’s Eve Operations

On New Year’s Eve, the business was open at 11:20pm, with customers eating. Hot food was visible on the self-service checkout, but staff stated that food was going out cold. Mr. Thorogood also mentioned concerns about crime and anti-social behaviour in Western Road.

Crime Statistics

Company’s Response

Jim Hawker, head of marketing at Sushi Co, apologized for the poor start to the company’s relationship with the police and the council. He stated that lessons have been learned and significant internal changes have been made.

Future Operations

Mr. Thushiharan mentioned that the company has over 30 restaurants, mostly in London, with more opening soon. He noted that local management in Brighton had changed information about the premises’ trading hours without permission.

Panel’s Decision

Councillor Lyons inquired about the changes made. Mr. Thushiharan responded that the London-based training team had visited weekly and there were regular calls with the Brighton management. The panel retired to make its decision, which will be made public within five working days.