Kebab shop owner who was fined over filthy premises turns business around
By Natalie Heath
A RESTAURANT owner who was fined £24,000 after killer bacteria E.coli was found in his kebab shop has now been praised for his impeccable hygiene standards.
Resat Gundogdu has turned his business around and the eatery has just scored a maximum five stars in its latest Scores On The Doors hygiene inspection.
Mr Gundogdu pleaded guilty to six charges of failing to maintain proper standards in food hygiene and health and safety, when he appeared at Crawley Magistrates' Court last November.
The court was told how council officers found high levels of the bacteria on food surfaces, taps, food boards and floor tiles.
There were also high levels of the bacteria listeria, which can be a particular danger to pregnant women and young babies, at Pound Hill Fish, Kebab and Steak Bar, in Grattons Drive.
Workers had not been trained in basic food hygiene standards and did not have any hand washing facilities.
But in just over a year, Mr Gundogdu, 51, has transformed the restaurant and even renamed it, calling it Real Barbecue and Bar.
He said: "I have changed the place entirely and have given it a completely new look from front to back."
The local businessman, who moved to Crawley 23 years ago, hopes the court appearance can now be left in the past.
He said: "I know I have made mistakes. All I can do is apologise for what happened last year.
"I have apologised to customers about the way the restaurant was kept."
Mr Gundogdu, of Balcombe Road, Pound Hill, has since signed a contract to get the restaurant thoroughly cleaned every three months and has had a hand washing sink installed.
Defending his actions, he said: "Half the problem was that I had other businesses elsewhere and I found it hard to keep an eye on all of them at once.
"I have since sold all but one of my other businesses and I now work 17-hour days here alone to make sure everything is perfect.
"Of course, this all did affect my business but I can honestly say there were about 90 per cent of customers that I didn't lose.
"I have customers all over the place in Redhill, East Grinstead, and Horsham who come here just for a kebab."
The restaurant boss claims to be the first person to bring the kebab to Crawley when he opened his business in 1988.
He added: "A few of my customers couldn't believe what was said in the newspapers about my court case.
"Some of them who have been customers since I opened the business have been of great support to me and even came to court that day.
"They all said to me that they had never had bad stomachs or been ill as a result of buying food from my restaurant."
Now, Mr Gundogdu is looking forward to being presented with his five star Scores On The Door window sticker and certificate, in the new year.
He said: "I will be making sure I put my sticker proudly in my window.
"What matters is I have learnt from my mistakes."
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