A Darlington takeaway which has reopened under new ownership and been awarded a top food hygiene rating has said it has been “unfairly impacted” after the previous operators faced criticism over its cleanliness.
The takeaway, located on Parkgate, which is formerly known as Cuisine Marmaris, is now operating as Grill and Thrill under new management, who stress they have no connection to the former owners.
The new owners, 25-year-old Heena Heena and her partner, 27-year-old Maaraju Aravola, took over the business two months ago and have since made major changes to the premises, kitchen and menu.
Following a recent inspection, the business has now been awarded a five-star food hygiene rating.
Ms Heena said she was “shocked” after finding out about the previous hygiene rating and believes it has hit their footfall since launching.
She said: “We were shocked when we realised the previous hygiene rating was zero.
“We immediately closed the shop for a month to carry out renovations, clean everything, and make sure all safety and hygiene standards were met.
“Two weeks ago, the Food Standards Agency gave us a five-star rating.
“We want people to know we are new owners and have nothing to do with the previous business.”
Out-of-date bolognese, raw beef stored next to bread rolls and a “pungent odour” were among the serious hygiene failings found at the former takeaway.
Darlington Borough Council said customers were placed at risk due to a string of food hygiene breaches, which landed the owner in court.
At Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on December 10, Ranga Gunumuthu, owner of Cuisine Marmaris on Parkgate, pleaded guilty to failing to keep his premises clean as required by food hygiene law and was ordered to pay £850 in fines and court costs.
The couple, who are both from Middlesbrough, said opening the business has come with challenges.
They believe this is partly because many customers are unaware of the change in ownership and think it is still being run by the same management.
Mr Aravola said: “Some people still think we are the old owners, which has affected trade.
“We’ve tried to communicate the changes on social media, but it’s taking time for the message to reach everyone.”
The new business, Grill and Thrill, offers a wide menu of freshly prepared food, including burgers, wraps, smash burgers, pizzas, milkshakes, waffles and parmos, with many items made from scratch.
The couple said the decision to open the takeaway came with the encouragement and guidance of their head chef, who helped design the menu and set up the kitchen.
Ms Heena added: “We wanted to bring a fresh approach, making everything with care and attention.
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“Our goal is to provide high-quality, safe food for the local community.”
The owners hope that the new five-star rating and rebranding will help rebuild customer confidence and attract new customers.
Grill and Thrill can be found on Parkgate, Darlington, DL1 1RX.
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