Restaurant reopens after owner settles energy bill

AN Indian restaurant in Henley that was shut by a court order was back open three days later.

Asiana Spice, in Reading Road, was shut on Monday last week after a writ of possession was stuck to the door.

Just, a debt collection agency, posted four notices in the windows stating that all the goods inside had been seized following an order from the High Court.

Action had been taken by SSE Energy Solutions due to an unpaid bill which, together with court and enforcement costs, totalled about £15,000.

Director Mahtab Uddin, who owns Asiana Spice, said that he has now paid the outstanding bill but he disputes it and will try to recoup the money. The restaurant was allowed to re-open on Wednesday evening last week.

Mr Uddin, 75, said: “Of course, I am very happy that it has re-opened now. I have paid the bill but told the court that I am going to dispute it. Business is very hard for us to survive at the moment.

“We are one of the biggest restaurants in Henley with 72 seats and we serve Indian and Thai food. The restaurant has been there for about 16 years and everybody knows me.”

Mr Uddin uses the money he earns from the restaurant doing deliveries to donate to starving families back in Bangladesh, where he is from.

The restaurant has five chefs, including Thai chef Saiful Islam, Indian chef Monir Hussain, and Tandoor chef Delwar Hussain. Manager Rafiqul Islam, 25, has worked in the restaurant for two years alongside assistant manager Habib Rahman, 28, and said they are cutting prices due to the rise in the cost of living.

Mr Islam said: “I really enjoy working here, it is a great environment too but the things that happened to us are very unfortunate.

“We are one of the very oldest Indian restaurants in this town, going since 2008. We are planning to bring some changes to the prices because of the national financial situation, so people can afford it. We always try to give our best services.

“We don't think of people as our customers, we always think they are our family members.”

Mr Islam expressed his joy of working in an area like Henley and said he loves the people. He said: “This is very like a posh area so I love working within this environment with the lovely people around Henley. So many people come here and are very friendly when they come here.”

Saiful Islam said: “When people come, they always appreciate the food quality, they are always mentioning it.

“I have been a chef for 28 years and serve diamond quality food because of experience. My food presentation is very good. It takes time to learn how to present food nicely, not many people can do it.”