THE BOSS of an Indian restaurant that was warned by food hygiene inspectors to make major improvements has spoken of his relief after receiving a top new rating.

Shah Ripon of Chutneys in Wallasey said the restaurant is “back to where it should be” after turning the initial ‘one’ rating into a ‘four’ – indicating a good standard.

The restaurant describes itself as Wallasey’s best, and now owner Shah wants to reaffirm that position.

Shah, 36, said the bad rating back in August came due to staffing issues and an “unlucky situation”, but that measures have been taken to ensure standards will not slip again.

He has been manager of the Liscard Village restaurant for eight years, and said the score was a result of “taking the eye off the ball”. He said the problem was solved the very next week – back in August.

He said: “What happened, happened. I can never get it back. That Sunday we had a very busy night and on the Monday was when [the inspectors] came. Nowadays, they have cameras and can take pictures. And they can look bad, but the reality is sometimes different.

“Our main aim is to give confidence to all customers. This place was already safe for customers and will be in the future as well. We have never had complaints.

“Most of our customers know we have the highest standards of quality and that this business didn’t build up by marketing or advertising – it was through hard work by me and my team.”

This week, inspectors awarded the restaurant a ‘four’, indicating a good level of food hygiene was being practised. Shah said he was told the kitchen was “spotless”.

Despite the negative initial inspection, loyal customers of Chutneys leapt to the restaurant’s defence, and posted glowing reviews online.

Shah added: “It made us feel better to see those responses from customers who have always shown us support.

“With the new training, we now have everything you could ask for in an Indian restaurant – everything to provide our customers with confidence.

“I should always have had a ‘four’. Our next aim now is to get a ‘five’.”

Shah and the team are now inviting people to come and inspect the kitchen for themselves, and have even posted a virtual tour, which they can take via a link posted to the restaurant’s Facebook page.

“People are very happy to see the restaurant and kitchen clean.”

The initial report by inspectors, which was carried out in August, was hugely critical of the restaurant, with several of the breaches also identical to the previous inspection.

It was revealed in a Freedom of Information document from Wirral council, and accused staff of breaching a number of food hygiene rules, but all that has now changed.