North East firms fined for employing illegal workers in 2025

The penalties, issued by the Home Office across 2025, range from £20,000 to £225,000, and span sectors including car washes, restaurants, takeaways, barbers, shops and recruitment firms.

Signage for the Home Office in Westminster, London (Image: Kirsty O’Connor/PA Wire)

Details of the fines were published as part of the Government’s quarterly disclosures, which name employers found to have breached immigration rules by hiring workers with expired visas, working restrictions, or no right to work at all.

One of the largest fines of the year was handed to Newbus Private Ltd, based at Skippers Lane Industrial Estate in Middlesbrough.

The firm was ordered to pay £225,000 after illegal workers were discovered during enforcement visits earlier this year.

Another major case involved Primary Care Recruitment Ltd, based in Gosforth, Newcastle.

The company appeared twice in the 2025 lists, fined £20,000 between January and March, followed by a much larger £165,000 penalty between April and June, bringing its total to £185,000.

In County Durham, Coxhoe Hand Car Wash Ltd, operating on Station Road, was issued an £80,000 penalty, while other sites in Sunderland, East Boldon, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough were also sanctioned.

Bayleaf Authentic Indian in Ferryhill received a £135,000 fine after repeated enforcement visits uncovered illegal workers.

Immigration Enforcement (Image: Laura Lean/PA MEDIA)

In Darlington, The Oak Tree pub in Middleton St George was fined £90,000 after immigration officers found four illegal workers during a raid late last year.

Other fined businesses include pizza shops, kebab houses, barbers and convenience stores across Newcastle, Sunderland, Stockton, North Shields and Seaham.

The Home Office has repeatedly warned that employers can face unlimited fines and up to five years in prison if they knowingly employ people without the right to work, or if they fail to carry out proper identity and visa checks.

Offences include employing workers whose visas have expired, allowing people to work outside visa conditions, or failing to verify documents correctly.

Full list: North East businesses fined in 2025

• Ozbek Restaurant Ltd (Cafe Capriccio), Durham – £40,000
• DH4 Ques Restaurant Ltd (Ques Pizza), Houghton-le-Spring – £90,000
• K J Kebab House Ltd, Willington – £45,000
• Bayleaf Ferry Hill Ltd (Bayleaf Authentic Indian), Ferryhill – £135,000
• Missim Ltd (The Oak Tree), Middleton St George – £90,000
• Kebabskee Ltd, Wallsend – £45,000
• Primary Care Recruitment Ltd, Gosforth – £20,000
• Jayco Recruitment Ltd, Hebburn – £105,000
• TC Barber Ltd, Newcastle – £45,000
• Shawarma and Grill House Ltd (Pinar Restaurant), Newcastle – £45,000
• Shkar Ahmed Sharif (Ara Store), Sunderland – £45,000
• Solo Pizza (Tyne & Wear) Ltd, Sunderland – £80,000
• Meat In Place (Sunderland) Ltd (Rustica Trattoria) – £45,000
• Newzad Osman (Cloudy Mini Market), Seaham – £45,000
• Dash & Go Ltd (Splash and Dash Valeting Centre), Hartlepool – £120,000
• Specialist Hand Car Wash Ltd, Middlesbrough – £40,000
• Coxhoe Hand Car Wash Ltd, County Durham – £80,000
• Amear Ltd (The Pizza Masters), Newcastle – £40,000
• Yellowdragon1619 Ltd (Royal Dragon), North Shields – £45,000
• Primary Care Recruitment Ltd, Gosforth – £165,000
• Masoud Kelaniki (Hand Car Wash), East Boldon – £90,000
• Bryar Mohammed Zada (European Shop), Newcastle – £45,000
• Sas Barbers Ltd, Newcastle – £45,000
• Sunderland Hand Car Wash (NE) Ltd – £40,000
• Magic Scissors 2 UK Ltd, Sunderland – £40,000
• Churchills Management Ltd, Seaham – £40,000
• JX Rising Sun Ltd, Stockton-on-Tees – £45,000
• Db & Lb Car Wash Ltd, Stockton-on-Tees – £40,000
• K2 Cash and Carry 2023 Ltd, Middlesbrough – £40,000
• Newbus Private Ltd, Middlesbrough – £225,000