A popular seafront restaurant has had its licence revoked after it employed three people illegally.

Southend Council’s licencing sub committee considered an application by Essex Police to review Padrino’s licence after it was found three people were disqualified from working at the restaurant because of their immigration status.

The licence review of the restaurant in Shorefield Road, Westcliff, was brought by police on the grounds of crime and disorder.

The family friendly Italian restaurant, formerly called Mama Mia, has been a prominent seafront business for more than 25 years.

The restaurant owners did not contest the evidence submitted by the police and the committee accepted they were regretful that they had failed in their duties as responsible employers and that there had been no attempt to deceive the authorities.

Nevertheless, the committee said the licence holder “had failed in their duty to comply with the conditions on the premises licence and the licensing legislation.”

It went on to revoke the licence “due to the gravity of the situation”.

Representatives of the police licensing unit and the Immigration Enforcement Office attended the hearing according to newly published minutes of the review held on March 29.