AN AWARD-WINNING restaurant named as one of the best in the UK has been forced to close down following concerns by the police.
Management at Westbourne Tandoori, which is in the seaside town of in Dorset, have a “blatant disregard of the law”, a sub-committee heard.
It comes after armed police were called to the premises after a man in his 30s was stabbed and rushed to hospital in 2023.
Westbourne Tandoori won best Indian Restaurant in the UK last year, and Mr Hussain won businessman of the year in Dorset.
But it has a zero out of five rating by the Food Standards Agency for its food hygiene.
Police asked for a review of the ‘s licence because they “do not consider the premises to be promoting the licensing objectives of the prevention of crime and disorder and public safety”.
No arrests were made in connection with the stabbing in 2023.
Officers said they couldn't fully investigate because the restaurant licence holder – Saydur Hussain – wouldn't co-operate with them.
A Dorset Police spokesperson said: “Our enquiries have concluded but, as with any case, we will consider any new lines of enquiry should they emerge.”;
A year later, cops were called to the food spot again, this time at the back.
Tensions had boiled over when Mr Hussain refused to move his car for an ambulance.
A report said his “demeanour and abusive and threatening response [was] to an innocuous request to move his car to allow an ambulance access”.
“Such loss of control could easily be envisaged as a response to a customer or member of staff within the premises.”
Sergeant Gareth Gosling said in a letter to Bournemouth Council: “The incident quickly escalated and resulted in allegations of assault and criminal damage that remain under investigation.”
Sgt Gosling said another incident cannot be disclosed to the public because of the “sensitive nature of the content”.
During a visit by police and Environmental Health, Mr Hussain became “increasingly agitated”.
Cops said he “threatened” officers and told staff to stop the police from leaving by blocking the doors.
The council said the restaurant can appeal the licence being revoked through the magistrates’ court.
It comes after, which which first opened in 2017 in the Lancashire town's Cathedral Quarter.
The closure means fans in the area will now have to travel to Preston or Blackpool to get their Turtle Bay fix.
The hospitality industry has faced mounting pressure in recent years, including recovering from the pandemic, rising living costs, inflation, and sky-high energy bills
