Sir Alex Ferguson’s favourite Italian restaurant fined £56,000 over illegal workers

A Hale restaurant long associated with Sir Alex Ferguson has been fined £56,000 after a Home Office raid found it employed undocumented workers.

Investigators visited Cibo in Hale following a tip-off and checked employees’ documents, focusing on whether staff were working with the proper permissions. While restaurant bosses said some workers were on trial shifts rather than in full-time roles, three staff members were arrested on suspicion of illegal working. The restaurant later acknowledged that one former employee had worked there for about three years under a false identity and without the right to work in the United Kingdom.

Trafford Council’s licensing sub-committee reviewed the case and emphasized the importance of robust right-to-work checks and proper employment procedures. The panel noted a discrepancy between what was said during the inquiry and what was found in practice, including no staff working without pay and work being properly documented. It underscored that all employees must have the right to work in the UK and that checks should be completed before any person is employed. The council also urged that workers be registered with HM Revenue and Customs for tax and national insurance, that wages be paid directly into bank accounts, and that records of employees be kept for five years.

The licensing body reported that the premises licence holder had replaced the designated premises supervisor since the incident and was undergoing an active review of the new appointee’s suitability. It also noted that the licence holder had previously sought advice from an individual who posed as a solicitor, a misstep that was corrected after the owner withdrew an appeal against the civil penalty and paid the £56,000 settlement.

The case arrived amid a wider political backdrop in which immigration and border control have featured prominently in public debate. Officials highlighted a broader crackdown on illegal working, including moves to tighten enforcement and bolster identity verification for workers. In parallel, Prime Minister and opposition leaders engaged in a dialogue over immigration policy, with remarks at recent events touching on border control and the handling of asylum-seeker arrivals. The government has signaled a push to implement stronger verification measures, including digital ID plans, as part of its stated aim to reduce exploitation of migrant labor and ensure fair wage practices across the economy.

Cibo, Trafford Council, and the Home Office were contacted for comment.