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New and improved Tandoor Mahal reopens after getting clean bill of health from Maidstone Borough Council
10:33, 28 February 2020
updated: 11:00, 04 March 2020
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The owner of a Maidstone curry house that recently made headlines because of a cockroach infestation has issued an apology and is inviting everyone to give his new restaurant a second chance.
Shiper Karim, who owns Tandoor Mahal with his brother Shalim, was informed his restaurant would be shut down by health officials after cockroaches were discovered on the premises.
The Medway Street eatery - which eventually went into liquidation on February 6 amid financial troubles - was also closed off by Maidstone Borough Council because of poor maintenance and cleanliness.
The siblings quickly borrowed around £20,000 from friends and family to undertake a huge refurbishment prior to the relaunch of their new restaurant.
In late February, the local council decided the eatery was no longer a public health risk and allowed them to open their doors once again.
“We are deeply sorry for what happened and to those who had booked with us between February 11 and 26”, said Shiper.
“Needless to say my brother Shalim and I feel very ashamed over what happened and we can only promise that no such incident will ever be repeated again.
“We’ve been in business since 1974 and nothing like this has ever happened before. I know that’s not an excuse. Good hygiene and health standards must never be compromised.
“We can only assure our customers and friends that we’ve learnt our lesson and we will be far more vigilant in future.”
Following the closure, the brothers moved quickly to overhaul their kitchen and restaurant as well as bring in pest control.
Today, Tandoor Mahal has a brand new kitchen with new equipment while the entire restaurant has been repainted.
“We’ve made some big changes to the restaurant not only in terms of bringing the establishment up to speed in terms of excellent hygiene standards but also decor,” continued Shiper.
“It’s exciting to make a new start but the most important thing for us is to win back the trust of our customers.
“And the only way we can do that is by promising to deliver first class cuisine at great prices and service.
“I think everyone deserves a second chance in life. We’re calling on the public to please give us our second chance.”
