A takeaway van that risked being shut down due to poor hygiene has had its trading license revoked for good.

BBQ King in Winnersh had been given a final chance to improve after receiving a slew of poor hygiene complaints, as well as reported drug and immigration offences.

It has operated in Wokingham for the past 30 years, and on Kings Street in Winnersh since 2019.

The Wokingham Borough Council Licensing and Appeals Sub-Committee reviewed the owner’s licence at a meeting in July this year. They decided to give BBQ one final chance, subject to improving hygiene conditions.

Council officers recommended the licence be removed due to concerns from residents, local councillors, environmental health and Thames Valley Police.

In March 2024, the police visited the food vendor on suspicion of drug offences. While no drugs were found, one male employee was arrested for an immigration offence of overstaying his welcome in the UK.

Owner Mr Muammer Kenan Mursaloglu said that since discovering this, he had ceased employment of the man, and that he would do proper work checks in the future.

Before this the business had been given a food hygiene rating of one – the lowest you can receive – after employees failed to demonstrate food safety management.

Raw meat was found to be stored at up to 15 degrees, and there was no hot water supply for handwashing.

The council demanded that BBQ King improved its hygiene practices at a random re-inspection that would take place in August, following the sub-committee meeting.

This took place on August 29, where the business was found to not be complying with hygiene rules, and given a one-out-of-five rating once again.

Following this, the licence was revoked for good on September 6.

Other issues raised at the meeting in July concerned waste management and operating hours. A resident had raised issue with their ward member, Councillor Prue Bray, alleging that BBQ King was tipping used cooking oil on grass, which was attracting rats.

Mr Mursaloglu was found to be consistently keeping his van pitched outside of operating hours and overnight, when he should have been removing it.

The owner was further not opening at correct licenced times.

Despite the licence revoke, it has been reported that the van remains open, and was trading earlier this week. Wokingham Borough Council said that their licensing and enforcement team would take ‘necessary action to ensure compliance’.