One of Sir Alex Ferguson’s favourite restaurants has been raided and slapped with a £56,000 fine for employing illegal foreign workers.
Along with the former Manchester United boss, actress Michelle Keegan and former Love Islander Molly-Mae Hague, who lives nearby, are regular customers.
The raid occurred at Italian restaurant Cibo in Hale, Greater Manchester, according to The Sun.
Home Office investigators were tipped off that employees had been working there without proper documentation.
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During the raid, the restaurant claimed that some staff were working trial shifts and therefore not directly employed.
Cibo then admitted that one former employee worked there for three years under a false identity without the right to work in the UK.
Three workers were arrested on suspicion of working illegally during the raid.
One of Sir Alex Ferguson’s favourite restaurants has been raided and slapped with a £56,000 fine for employing illegal foreign workers
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While the bosses agreed to pay the Home Office charge, the diner was warned they could lose their license if another incident were to occur.
Borders Minister Alex Norris said: “We are coming down hard on illegal working across the UK.”
A review by Trafford Council declared no employee should be allowed to work without payment, and that all wages must be paid directly into a bank account.
Home Office investigators were tipped off that employees had been working at Cibo without proper documentation
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Records of employees should also be kept for five years.
The report by Trafford Council officers for the local authority's licensing sub-committee earlier details the ordeal: “We heard that during an intelligence-led visit to the premises persons were working at the premises without a right to work within the United Kingdom.
“We were made aware that the premises licence holder disputed that some of those spoken to were employed at the premises as they were undertaking trial shifts.
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“We noted some discrepancies in what we were told in the length of time those people had been undertaking that work.
“We noted that the company admitted that it had re-engaged one former employee who had continued to work at the premises for a period of three years using a false identity and without a right to work in the United Kingdom.
“We heard that the premises licence holder has replaced the DPS since this incident, there being an active consultation as to the suitability of the newly nominated DPS.
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Other stars who regularly dine out at the restaurant include Michelle Keegan and Molly-Mae Hague
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“We heard that the premises licence holder has reviewed the right to work of all its employees and has revised and improved its practices and procedures and appointed new advisers.
“We heard that the premises licence holder had taken the advice from a person who held themselves out to be a solicitor, but who did not hold that qualification and had in consequence appealed against the civil penalty imposed by the Home Office.
“We understand that having taken professional advice the premises licence holder has withdrawn that appeal and has made a payment of £56,000 to the Home Office to settle the matter.
“We were told that the premises licence holder would welcome any additional conditions that prevented any form of illegal working.”