‘Systematic’ business rate avoidance tackled at Jimmy’s restaurant at Brighton Marina

Specialist investigators are working with Brighton & Hove City Council to help recover more than £200,000 in unpaid business rates relating to the Jimmy’s Restaurant premises at Brighton Marina.

Enforcement officers from the council attended the premises earlier this week and removed goods in connection with business rate (NNDR) arrears dating back to when Jimmy’s started trading in 2014.

The council’s lead member for finance, Councillor Les Hamilton, said: “We have a legal duty to collect business rates. These help pay for essential local services.

“This is a very complex case. The proprietors of Jimmy’s restaurant have been actively and systematically avoiding payment of local taxation, and ignored our efforts to reach a reasonable accommodation regarding payment.

“We have appointed insolvency specialists Smith Williamson to pursue this. Smith Williamson are also working with a range of other parties who have been affected by the trading activities at the Jimmy’s premises, and have the specialist expertise needed.”

“It is regrettable that enforcement action has had to be taken, however, we have a legal duty to take robust action as a last resort when all other attempts to collect the unpaid taxes, including court proceedings, fail to get the necessary result.”

if you have any further information about the people or companies running Jimmy’s Restaurant please email enforcement@brighton-hove.gov.uk

All contact will be treated in the strictest confidence.