Home Office withdraws request to review Italian restaurant’s licence - Kent Online

The Home Office has withdrawn its request to revoke an Italian restaurant’s licence after a member of staff was found to be working there illegally.

Enforcement officers raided Mad In Italy 2 in Gravesend in March 2025, following a tip-off, and discovered a woman was in the country on an expired student visa.

An illegal worker was found to be employed. Picture: Home Office

In the Home Office’s report, which was submitted to Gravesham council at the end of last year, officers said the staff member had entered the UK on a student visa valid from August 2023 to September 2026.

However, the visa had been curtailed and expired in August 2024, which the Indian national and then-owner of the business, Salvatore Di Simone, said they were not aware of.

The report also said the woman told officers she had been employed at the restaurant for about four months and worked five-hour days, totalling 20 hours a week.

Salvatore resigned from his role as director on June 20, and his successor, Caologero Puma, was said to have been at the restaurant at the time of the visit.

Officers considered that he had links to the previous operations and illegal working, therefore asked for Mad In Italy 2’s licence to be revoked.

The new owners denied any association with the previous directors

It has since been confirmed that the request has been withdrawn, and the licence is no longer under review.

As of October, the restaurant on the corner of Milton Road was under new ownership and management.

The new bosses told KentOnline they had no association with the previous directors or the incident, and it is understood this is why the licence review has been withdrawn.

KentOnline has attempted to contact Mad In Italy 2 since, but was told that the eatery is closed and is looking to reopen under new management.

The Home Office was contacted for comment, but would not confirm why they have withdrawn their request.