Licence bid rejected as Hereford takeaway Marmaris Kebab shuts doors

A Hereford takeaway has been told it cannot transfer its premises licence to a new licence holder – and now appears to have closed.

A behind-closed-doors meeting of Herefordshire Council’s licensing subcommittee heard the application from Marmaris Kebab of Union Street in the city earlier this month.

Minutes of the meeting published afterwards reveal little of proceedings, except to say that councillors on the subcommittee heard representations from the Immigration Service and West Mercia Police, as well as from the licence applicant and their legal representative.

On the basis of this, they decided the premises licence should not be transferred to the applicant.

The council has held several meetings to review late licences of takeaways and restaurants in the city so far this year following a string of multi-agency raids.

It has withheld information about the meetings, and public access to them, as not being in the public interest.

Last month the subcommittee revoked the premises licence of Sizzler, another late-night takeaway on the same street, over what it called “serious” immigration offences , coupled with a previous breach of its licence.

A restaurant, pub or takeaway needs a licence for “late night refreshment” if it wants to sell hot food or drinks past 11pm. Marmaris previously stayed open till 1.30am seven days a week.

However its website now says Marmaris is closed, the premises appears to be locked during its published opening hours, and there was no response to phone calls.

Food Standards Agency inspectors gave Marmaris a one-star food hygiene rating earlier this year.