A Jesmond takeaway’s new owners have reassured customers that the business is “under new management”, with a recent visit by hygiene inspectors showing operations have “much improved”.

This follows a previous prosecution and fine by Newcastle City Council for serious food hygiene offences.

Jesmond Tandoori, situated on Jesmond Road, was initially visited by environmental health officers during a routine inspection in March 2024, with the inspectors concluding that it was “filthy”.

Bina Essa and her husband, Abu Essa admitted to five breaches of Food Safety and Hygiene regulations. Each were fined £480, later reduced to £320 for early guilty pleas, and ordered to pay a £128 victim surcharge and £85 in legal costs.

The first visit by inspectors gave the takeaway a zero rating, after the kitchen was found to be very dirty, with most surfaces deemed filthy, no fridge temperature records and missing floor coverings.

Food was stored in dirty containers with no labels signalling when the produce was out of date. Inspectors also found expired food, such as a tub of yoghurt, which had expired two months before the inspection.

Subsequent inspections a few months after revealed no improvements: Staff could not wash their hands because a metal bench blocking the sink, and food remained disorganised, raising cross-contamination risks and leaving the takeaway with a zero hygiene rating.

Despite multiple inspections and warnings, the owners failed to comply, leading to prosecution under food safety law.

The couple defended the allegations, saying they had struggled to cope with running the business, with Mrs Essa adding that staff did not listen to her.

They have since given up ownership, although Mrs Essa now works part-time as a kitchen assistant for the new owners. Companies House records suggest that the business was taken over by Akik Miah in December 2024.

A staff member who spoke to JesmondLocal, who asked not to be named, said: “We understand there’s been some concern about a past court order. That incident happened over a year ago and has since been fully resolved. The staff responsible are no longer with us, and the business is now under new management.”

The representative added: “The council has inspected us several times since then and is satisfied with our current standards and management. Food hygiene is our top priority — we only serve food that we’d be happy to eat ourselves.”

Cllr Alex Hay, Newcastle City Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for regulatory services, said:

“We can’t stress enough the importance of good hygiene and food management in takeaways. It’s common sense and what the public rightly expects. 

“I am pleased they’re no longer running this takeaway, and I hope others note this prosecution because we won’t hesitate to prosecute you if you put the public at risk.”

The takeaway, which was popular with residents and university students, put hundreds of customers at risk due to repeated hygiene breaches.

Harry Wilson, 21, a student at Newcastle University, who previously ordered from the takeaway, said: “A takeaway is like a reward. Finding out that it came from a kitchen called ‘filthy’ by inspectors after multiple visits isn’t the best feeling. The laws are in place for a reason, and for the sake of public health, they should be followed.”

Judith Seymour, a permanent resident of Jesmond, said: “Why wasn’t it shut down immediately instead of giving them time to improve on their cleanliness? They could have potentially cost someone their life with contaminated food.”

She added: “As soon as any food preparation areas are found to be a risk, the premises should be closed until it is deemed hygienic enough to open again.”