A restaurant which lost its booze licence in 2017 and had a new application rejected in August, will be hoping the licensing committee is in a festive mood after reapplying once more.

Caversham restaurant Momo House, lost its license to sell alcohol in October 2017 after illegal workers fled during a search a few months earlier.

New owner Thir Bahadir Gurung was refused a new booze licence in August 2018, because of concerns about the owner’s experience and understanding of licensing policy.

Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) licensing and environmental health teams and Thames Valley Police (TVP) have objected to the new application, which will be heard on December 18.

Mr Gurung was given a caution for an undisclosed offence on April 14, 2018, which TVP believe is serious enough to refuse the licence.

Declan Smyth, TVP officer, said: “Although Mr Gurung was given a caution for this offence; due to its serious nature we believe it represents exceptional circumstances and that his appointment as designated premises supervisor would undermine the crime prevention objective.”

There are also concerns that the business is being run by former owners, who employed illegal workers and sold alcohol without a designated premises supervisor at Momo House.

Richard French, licensing officer said: “No documentation has ever been produced to state that Mr Gurung has ownership and control of the business.

“Previous visits to the premises identified the former owners still either managing the premises or paying appropriate rates for the premises.”

Mr French also raised issue with the licensable hours requested, which are beyond the premises’ planning permission and longer than in the previously refused application.

The Nepalese restaurant lost its license in October 2017 after illegal workers fled during a search in July 2017 when the business had different owners.

At the most recent licence hearing, in August, Mr Gurung did not have professional representation and struggled to present his case for a new licence.

Councillor Deborah Edwards concluded that ownership of the restaurant was unclear, based on a July 21 visit by RBC officers, and that Mr Gurung lacked experience and understanding of licensing.

The committee will also decide on whether to allow The Botanist, on King Street, to extend its licensable hours by an hour, till midnight (Sunday-Wednesday) and 1am (Thursday-Saturday).