Latest news with #CaféDiana
The Independent
30-06-2025
- The Independent
London cafe with royal link could be forced to close
Café Diana, which was named in honour of the former Princess of Wales, faces a licence review by the Home Office. The café is accused of illegally hiring migrants, with some workers allegedly paid only in food. Further allegations include allowing the unlawful smoking of shisha in its basement, where unlabelled shisha tobacco was seized. The Home Office said seven illegal employees were found working there between September 2019 and December 2024. The business previously incurred a £135,000 civil penalty in April for illegally employing three migrants, with a ruling on its licence expected on Thursday.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Princess Diana's favourite café risks closure over ‘illegal migrant workers and paying staff in food'
A favourite café of Princess Diana could be forced to close after it was accused of illegally hiring migrants, paying employees in only food, and allowing the unlawful smoking of shisha. Café Diana, which was named in honour of the former Princess of Wales, could lose its licence, after the Home Office applied for a review, with a hearing set to take place on Thursday. Diana and her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, quickly became regulars at the café, which is near to Kensington Palace in west London, after she made her first visit within days of its opening in 1989. Café owner, Abdul-Basit Daoudr Daoud, recalled the princess's visits after her death. 'She started coming more often, bringing the kids here sometimes for breakfast. The kids used to take breakfast, like English breakfast. Herself, she used to have cappuccino, cake, some croissants, something like this. But she sometimes had English breakfast too,' he said, according to The Times. Shortly before she died in 1997, according to the paper, the princess sent a letter to him, reading: 'I wanted to write personally, to thank you so very much for the beautiful flowers you sent for my birthday.' Café Diana now has dozens of photographs of the princess plastered over its walls, including one given by Diana as a present, and has become a popular tourist spot. But the business is facing the prospect of having its licence revoked after the Home Office said seven illegal employees were found working there between September 2019 and December 2024, who were from countries such as Egypt and Albania, according to a report published by inspectors from Kensington and Chelsea council. In interviews, some of these workers claimed they were 'paid in food' rather than money. Inspectors said this 'raises concerns about labour exploitation taking place at the premises', the report added. It is also alleged that, in May this year, a number of customers were discovered smoking shisha in the basement area of the café. Officers seized 45 unlabelled tubs of shisha tobacco. Mr Daoud told officers that he oversaw the recruitment process, including checking the right-to-work and immigration status of new employees. He said that members of staff were paid in cash, and admitted that some received free food in exchange for working at the café. The report stated: 'Café Diana has been found employing illegal workers. This business has clearly failed to meet the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety objectives.' Previously, the company running the café was ordered to pay a £135,000 civil penalty in April after it was found to illegally be employing three migrants, according to the report. In a letter to the council, lawyers for Café Diana's owners said: 'Immediately upon becoming aware of the reported issues, the licensee took swift and decisive action to evict the tenant responsible for the unauthorised activities.' In the report, the café has suggested that a three-month suspension could be implemented, during which time it said it would ensure right-to-work immigration checks are done for all members of staff. A ruling will be made by the licensing committee of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on Thursday. The Independent has contacted Café Diana for comment.
The Independent
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Princess Diana's favourite café risks closure over ‘illegal migrant workers and paying staff in food'
A favourite café of Princess Diana could be forced to close after it was accused of illegally hiring migrants, paying employees in only food, and allowing the unlawful smoking of shisha. Café Diana, which was named in honour of the former Princess of Wales, could lose its licence, after the Home Office applied for a review, with a hearing set to take place on Thursday. Diana and her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, quickly became regulars at the café, which is near to Kensington Palace in west London, after she made her first visit within days of its opening in 1989. Café owner, Abdul-Basit Daoudr Daoud, recalled the princess's visits after her death. 'She started coming more often, bringing the kids here sometimes for breakfast. The kids used to take breakfast, like English breakfast. Herself, she used to have cappuccino, cake, some croissants, something like this. But she sometimes had English breakfast too,' he said, according to The Times. Shortly before she died in 1997, according to the paper, the princess sent a letter to him, reading: 'I wanted to write personally, to thank you so very much for the beautiful flowers you sent for my birthday.' Café Diana now has dozens of photographs of the princess plastered over its walls, including one given by Diana as a present, and has become a popular tourist spot. But the business is facing the prospect of having its licence revoked after the Home Office said seven illegal employees were found working there between September 2019 and December 2024, who were from countries such as Egypt and Albania, according to a report published by inspectors from Kensington and Chelsea council. In interviews, some of these workers claimed they were 'paid in food' rather than money. Inspectors said this 'raises concerns about labour exploitation taking place at the premises', the report added. It is also alleged that, in May this year, a number of customers were discovered smoking shisha in the basement area of the café. Officers seized 45 unlabelled tubs of shisha tobacco. Mr Daoud told officers that he oversaw the recruitment process, including checking the right-to-work and immigration status of new employees. He said that members of staff were paid in cash, and admitted that some received free food in exchange for working at the café. The report stated: 'Café Diana has been found employing illegal workers. This business has clearly failed to meet the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety objectives.' Previously, the company running the café was ordered to pay a £135,000 civil penalty in April after it was found to illegally be employing three migrants, according to the report. In a letter to the council, lawyers for Café Diana's owners said: 'Immediately upon becoming aware of the reported issues, the licensee took swift and decisive action to evict the tenant responsible for the unauthorised activities.' In the report, the café has suggested that a three-month suspension could be implemented, during which time it said it would ensure right-to-work immigration checks are done for all members of staff. A ruling will be made by the licensing committee of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on Thursday.
Telegraph
30-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Cafe named after Princess Diana ‘employing illegal migrants'
A café named after Diana, Princess of Wales, could lose its licence for employing migrants illegally. The royal was a regular guest at Café Diana in Notting Hill Gate after it opened in 1989 close to Kensington Palace. She reportedly took Prince William and Prince Harry for breakfast. The Home Office has applied for the café's licence to be revoked after discovering seven staff members without the correct documentation from Egypt, Iran and Albania during four inspections between September 2019 and May 2025. Abdul-Basit Daoud, the venue's designated premises superviser, recalled that Diana first visited the café days after it opened. He said: 'She started coming more often, bringing the kids here sometimes for breakfast. The kids used to take breakfast, like English breakfast. 'Herself, she used to have cappuccino, cake, some croissants, something like this. But she sometimes had English breakfast too.' The café is now a popular tourist destination with photographs of the princess on the walls, including one that Diana gave as a gift. Documents submitted to the council by the Home Office and seen by The Telegraph showed that one employee was paid £40 for an eight-hour shift, equivalent to £5 an hour, while one chef who arrived in the UK on a business visa that ran out in 2015 said he was 'paid in food'. The report also revealed that one illegal worker had been employed at the premises for more than two years. The Home Office report said: 'This prolonged period of illegal employment is significant as it indicates a persistent undermining of the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective.' The cafe was fined £10,500 in February 2020 for hiring illegal workers and another £135,000 in December 2024 for the same offence. On May 9, 45 tubs of illegal shisha tobacco were seized, and council Trading Standards Officials found smoking had taken place in smoke-free areas. The Home Office report added: 'It is clear to see that the premises licence holder/DPS, along with management, has failed to conduct mandatory employment checks in line with legal obligations to prevent illegal working. 'It is an offence to work when a person is disqualified to do so, and such an offence can only be committed with the co-operation of a premises licence holder or its agents. The management could have eradicated any doubt concerning right-to-work by the simple task of acquiring a share code from potential employees.' The Metropolitan Police asked the council 'to be mindful' in their decision, adding: 'To allow them the benefit of a premises licence would undermine the prevention of crime and disorder licensing objective.' Mr Daoud's company, Corporate Meeting and Event Services Ltd, ran the café but were evicted by SSW6 Holding Ltd which holds the licence. Mr Daoud's company was liquidated in June. Mr Daoud admitted recruiting staff from overseas but said all new hires were required to fill out a starter checklist and all underwent right-to-work checks. Paid with food He also said staff were verbally told which days to work and are paid in cash 'with some receiving free food in return for working at the premises'. Lawyers for SSW6 Holding Ltd said his client undertook 'swift and decisive action' by evicting the current tenants after becoming aware of the issues and suggested suspending the licence for three months. The company proposed hiring door security, carrying out regular immigration checks, and improving CCTV and training for staff. A legal letter read: 'We respectfully suggest that a suspension of the premises licence for a period of three months would represent an appropriate and proportionate response.'
Scottish Sun
29-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Cafe loved by Princess Diana named in her honour could lose licence after employing illegal migrants
The café sometimes paid workers with food and was being used to smoke shisha CAFE SCANDAL Cafe loved by Princess Diana named in her honour could lose licence after employing illegal migrants Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A CAFE once loved by Princess Diana and named in her honour could lose its license after employing illegal migrants. The café also sometimes paid employees with food and was being unlawfully used to smoke shisha in a shocking find by police. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 The Café Diana was loved by the princess after it was named in her honour 3 Tubs containing suspected illegal shisha were confiscated from Café Diana in May Credit: Kensington and Chelsea Council The Café Diana first opened its doors close to Kensington Palace, west London, in 1989. It became a favourite of the princess after it was named in her honour. Shortly before her death in 1997 she had sent a touching letter to the café's owner which said: 'I wanted to write personally, to thank you so very much for the beautiful flowers you sent for my birthday.' Abdul-Basit Daoud, the owner, fondly recalled how Diana first visited the café days after it opened. He said: "She started coming more often, bringing the kids here sometimes for breakfast. "The kids used to take breakfast, like English breakfast. "Herself, she used to have cappuccino, cake, some croissants, something like this but she sometimes had English breakfast too." Dozens of photographs of the princess adorn the walls, including one she herself had presented as a gift, as the cafe is now a popular tourist destination. But the Home Office has now applied for the establishment's license to be revoked. During four inspections between 2019 and 2024, seven illegal workers from Albania and Egypt were found. The basement was also being unlawfully used to smoke shisha. One migrant had been employed there for more than two years, according to an immigration enforcement report. Other workers said they received food instead of pay for their work. This "raised concerns about labour exploitation in the premises". Heartbreak for Harry & William as bodyguard who was with young princes when their mum Diana was killed in car crash dies One chef was found to have been "paid in food" and had arrived in the UK on a business visa that expired in 2015. Owner Daoud oversaw recruitment, checking the right-to-work and immigration status of new staff members. He told officers that staff were paid in cash and some received free food in return for working at the cafe. The inspectors report stated: 'Café Diana has been found employing illegal workers. "This business has clearly failed to meet the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety objectives.' As a result, the café was slapped with a £135,000 fine in April for illegally employing three migrants. Customers were also found to be smoking shisha in the basement during an enforcement visit in May with police and trading officers. They seized 45 unlabelled tubs of shisha tobacco. Lawyers for the café's owners said in a letter to the council: 'Immediately upon becoming aware of the reported issues, our client undertook swift and decisive action by evicting the tenant responsible for the unauthorised activities.' The café has now suggested suspending its license for three months. This is to ensure that "right-to-work" immigration checks are carried out on all staff members.
