Owner of 'Covid factory' restaurant stripped of licence

Police told Redbridge Council’s licensing committee on January 19 that the well-known Chigwell Road restaurant, owned by Ali Melin, held regular illegal parties from May until early November last year.

Despite attending at least 13 incidents at the Woodford Green restaurant, police made no mention of fining Mr Melin. The council confirmed in September this had not been done.

It was confirmed today that Mr Melin lost his licence after the committee heard Melin Chigwell called a “Covid factory” and a “continuing threat to public health” by the ward councillor.

Losing the licence does not force Mr Melin to close the business but means the restaurant cannot serve alcohol or stay open late.

Mr Melin did not attend the meeting, with Instagram stories suggesting he was in Dubai at the time. He recently posted a link to a new account for "Melin Dubai", which according to its sole post is "coming soon".

The first post on "Melin Dubai" made today (Melin Dubai/Instagram)

Explaining their decision, the committee wrote: “We find Mr Melin’s continued failure to comply with (lockdown) was quite deliberate.

“We find that Mr Melin has operated these premises with complete disregard for the safety of his staff, customers and the public at large.

“He has repeatedly failed to implement any social distancing measures or insist on mask wearing.”

The committee criticised Mr Melin for “locking the doors for 10 minutes” to bar police from an event on November 3, which they said would have “posed a serious risk to safety” in case of a fire.

They added: “Mr Melin has sought to conceal his illegal activities by blacking out windows, refusing and delaying entry, turning off the music and lying about what is taking place.

“We find that Mr Melin has no intention to operate the premises in a lawful manner… (and) leaves us with no option but to revoke the licence.”

Read more: 'Covid factory' restaurant used as illegal club

The restaurant made national news in September last year after Mr Melin was recorded threatening to take staff “into the basement” if they kept their tips.

Cllr Canal played the recording, leaked by a member staff in September last year, to the committee to demonstrate why neighbours were scared to criticise the owner publicly.

In the recording, a voice, which Mr Melin confirmed to The Sun was his own, can be heard telling staff: “If I see again that someone has put money in their pocket, I will either, one, report it to the police or, two, take them into the basement. Simple as that: you take money from me, I will take something from you.”

The official Melin Chigwell Instagram posted a since-deleted statement explaining that tips are “split among staff” after being collected, adding: “To learn staff were stealing tips from the entire team was extremely disappointing.”

In September, the council issued a “notice of direction” to the restaurant, ordering it to stop using its first floor as a dance floor or play any kind of music.

Cllr Mark Santos, cabinet member for health, said the move should “serve as a warning” to businesses that they cannot “defy the rules without consequences”.

However, emails sent to Cllr Canal by residents suggest little changed after the council enforcement.

For more breaking news, local headlines and features, ‘like’ our Facebook page.

We also have a Twitter account: @ELondonGuardian

Follow us to keep up-to-date with news in Waltham Forest and Redbridge.