London’s first fine dining Armenian restaurant closes down after Home Office raid ‘uncovers illegal workers’

· November 5, 2024

Exclusive: Owners of Lusin, a stone’s throw from Ritz, were fined £60,000

THE STANDARD

London’s first fine dining Armenian restaurant, which was fined £60,000 following a Home Office raid, has closed down.

Owners of the exclusive Lusin, where a kebab cost £46, were handed the penalty after four illegal workers were found during a surprise enforcement visit.

It is understood the staff were Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan nationals.

The Home Office said its officers carried out an “intelligence-led visit” to the premises, a stone’s throw from Green Park and the Ritz Hotel, in September 2023.

Four people found to be working unlawfully were arrested and subsequently granted bail.

The Mira Food group, which owns the business, was handed a £60,000 penalty by the Government earlier this year.

Lusin opened its doors in October 2022, serving a menu curated by a two-Michelin-starred chef.

Its “famous cherry kebab” cost £46, while a mixed grill would set diners back £85.

The London branch was the latest expansion for the restaurant chain, which also has established eateries in the Saudi Arabian cities of Riyadh, Jeddah and Al Khobar.

Its existing locations have served members of the Saudi Arabian royal family, as well as the late Kofi Annan, former secretary general of the United Nations.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are determined to clamp down both on illegal working and the exploitative treatment of illegal workers.

“Vulnerable individuals can find themselves trapped in unsafe and insecure conditions, facing exploitation and even modern-day slavery, often facilitated by organized criminal gangs.”

The Lusin building, in Hay Hill, is now up for rent.

A notice posted on the restaurant’s window reads: “We regret to inform you that Lusin will be closed starting from 14th September 2024.

“We thank you for your continued support and loyalty.”