Curry house boss hits back after hygiene fine
A restaurant owner, fined for food hygiene offences, has defended his business.
Jamal Uddin, 39, has run the Newent Tandoori takeaway in the town for 17 years, and said he had never received a complaint from a customer.
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Jamal Uddin
But after council officials took him to court and released images of a dirty storeroom in his restaurant next door to the takeaway, he said he lost almost a third of his business.
But Mr Uddin, who was fined £1,650 at Gloucester Magistrates’ Court, said the picture released by the council, which was sent out with a report on the restaurant’s food hygiene, was taken in a storeroom.
He admitted four offences under the Food Hygiene Regulations Act.
Mr Uddin said the restaurant had seen a dramatic drop in trade as a result of the report.
He said: “As soon as that picture went out, I lost 30 per cent of my customers.
“That was last week, I have no idea whether this week will be any better.
“Some of my customers have been coming here since we opened, and some of their children now come here.
“I’ve never, in all my time here, had a complaint from customers, or any complaints to the council. No one’s ever got food poisoning or put in any official complaint.”
He added that he was hoping to turn over a new leaf and would comply with all hygiene rules.
He said: “We have even demolished that store room. We didn’t need to, but we’ve done it to please the council and give customers peace of mind.
“I would like to say to my customers that we don’t operate a dirty kitchen here. We never have and we never will operate a kitchen in that state.” He added the restaurant had received a new three-star hygiene rating from Forest of Dean District Council after a recent re-inspection, but they could have got a higher grade.
He said: “They told me that if the building work on the storeroom hadn’t been going on, I would have got four stars.”
Keith Leslie, food and safety team manager for the Forest of Dean District Council, said: “The picture was taken in a storeroom used for the storage of food.
“The requirements are the same for kitchens and storerooms. In either case it needed to be in a decent condition, which it clearly wasn’t.
“The positive side is the fact that, after the court case was all done and dusted, he was due a re-assessment and he had improved so much he received a good rating.”
31 Comments
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by Mark Duffy, Hereford
Saturday, February 20 2010, 4:29AM
“I live in Hereford, I been travelling to Newent Tandoori for my weekly, Chicken Tikka Masala , it's always been superb food, the place looks very clean
Jay is very kind and happy man' won't say no to any request.
we have 5 to 6 Indian restaurant and takeaways in Hereford, none of them good as Newent Tandoori that's why I had to drive all the way to Newent .
I wish they would open one in Hereford, so I won't have to travel so far,
I would Recommend Newent Tandoori ant time.
we'll be having our regular curry tomorrow.”
by Lorraine peacock, Newent
Saturday, February 20 2010, 4:08AM
“The Staff in Newent Tandoori are great, very accommodating, the chef can cook any dish you wish Indian of course.
If you are looking for clean place, superb food, excellent ambiance, creative dishes
then look no further, then Newent Tandoori.
we entertain business client 's most week, only place we can be very confident of it's Newent Tandoori.
The food is every time consistent and the potion and texture all ways right.
Because it is vital for our business to have a satisfied client.
hope it will be same as now, for many years to come.
Rating 10/10”
by hossen, Newent
Saturday, February 20 2010, 3:31AM
“The food in Newent Tandoori is simply the best .
all my family are connoisseur in Asian food.
we been all over the country and tried many Indian takeaways and restaurant,
all we can say if you want fresh and tasty Indian curry or tandoori you won,t find any better place then Newent Tanddoori
don't just take my word, try it your self.
we love your food Newent Tandoori.
Keeping cooking Chef, because we are coming for more.”
by tomas magruder, Newent
Monday, February 15 2010, 11:34AM
“i only eat english food like meat. and chips”
by julie, tenerife
Saturday, February 13 2010, 9:12PM
“always ate here with my bro who lives in huntley.no probs.been in tenerife 9yrs no place out here makes the nosh as well!!”
by Paul, Newent
Saturday, February 13 2010, 8:02PM
“I wouldn't eat at this dump even if it was free.”
by Big Al, Huntley
Friday, February 12 2010, 11:15PM
“The best takeaway in the County.
Have been a regular customer for 17 years - never had any problem with any food. All the best jay - hope all your loyal customers do not dessert you. Perhaps now the we can get served quicker. But the wait is worth it.
Good luck.”
by Big Baby, Dymock
Friday, February 12 2010, 10:40PM
“Mr Uddin you have nothing to worry about, you serve great food, and people will always come for great food.
Id be interested to know how much of a jobsworth that council employee was? But I suspect you would be too polite to say anyway.
Remember this, an Inspector that doesnt find anything wherever he goes, is about as much use to the council as a traffic warden that cant issue tickets.
Takeaways always come and go, but yours has been around for 17 years; says something.
You also provide a valuable service to the local community and I for one will support you! In fact Im fed up of seeing local businesses closing, and empty boarded up shops, so you have to keep trading OK?!
You will be getting further patronage from me. Big Baby is coming and hes feeling hungry.”
by brian.kinmas, Swindon
Friday, February 12 2010, 6:20PM
“we like this restrant too much.
food always bestest in town.
we come from miles away to have the famous sag aloo and spicy papds.
well done to manager for making best curry in UK.”
by Gobsmacked, North of Gloucester
Friday, February 12 2010, 5:49PM
“Hanna Rudfords, Huntley. Becky Smith, ledbury. craig.canavan, Birmingham.
It sounds like you're all the same person with your poor grammar and lack of capitalisation. Newent Tandoori management maybe? ;-)”