Dolphin’s Caribbean Restaurant & Bar has been open in the town centre since April last year.
The venue in St Mary’s Butts took over the former 7Bone burger restaurant that closed in October 2023.
In March last year, the business owner Randolph Bancroft won permission from Reading Borough Council to open from 6am until midnight each day, with activities such as alcohol sales ending at 11.30pm.
restaurant (Image: NQ)
But now he could be in trouble with the council and the Home Office for allegedly hiring an illegal worker from Grenada, an English-speaking island nation in the Caribbean.
Remarkably, evidence claims the woman has been staying in the UK for four years as a tourist.
The woman was found allegedly working during a visit by council officers and Home Office immigration enforcers on Thursday, February 19.
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Council licensing officer Robert Smalley stated: “During the visit, an employee from Grenada was encountered by officers working at the rear of the kitchen, wearing similar clothing to other workers. They were carrying a plate of food.
“The employee stated that she does not work at the premises and was only doing work experience for two weeks.
“This meant waitering, cleaning dishes, and serving tables. The employee stated that they did not get paid and they never showed anything to prove they had the right to work in the UK.
“The owner of the premises, Mr Bancroft, stated that the employee had been working and being paid for approximately seven months.
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“He stated that they help to make food and work four days a week, between five to six hours per day.
“He stated that they are paid between £1000 and £1250 a month and payments are made via bank transfer.
“Mr Bancroft explained that ‘the admin team’ had completed the right to work checks on said employee but was not able to provide any evidence of what checks had taken place.
“The employee entered the UK on the 14/04/2022 as a tourist, they are currently awaiting decisions on matters pertaining to their immigration status.
“As of 20/04/2026 they do not have a right to work in the UK.”
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Licensing officers Mike Harding and Ben Williams also saw the venue open after 3am during a special event Mr Bancroft had a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) for, which allows the temporary extension of activities.
But the officers argued activities were meant to finish at 3am. Despite that, groups of people were seen at Dolphins at 3.10am and 3.18am when it closed.
The council’s licensing team have requested that the licence be revoked, meaning alcohol sales could be banned and activities would have to end at 11pm.
This request is due to be considered at a meeting of the council’s licensing applications sub-committee on Thursday, June 11.
Defending the venue, licensing representative Bill Done said: “There is an allegation that they have hired an illegal worker, but the council have been a bit quick off the mark.
“It is an allegation, and we’ve got a rebuttal against that.”
On staying open longer than permitted, Mr Donne said: “Part of the deal with TENs is that, in essence, a TEN is not a licence in itself, it’s a notification to the authority for extended licenseable activities, unless police object, they are granted.
“No conditions are attached relating to TEN. The comments by officers are erroneous.”
