Gas works cost Tipton restaurant £1.5k as staff forced to turn away customers

Amirul Islam, the manager of Eastern Spice in Owen Street, claimed the business had lost around £1,500 after National Grid gasworks forced its closure.

As part of the ongoing works on the street, Eastern Spice's gas was turned off for safety reasons but it was not put back on in time for their busy evening service.

According to Mr Islam, he was told the gas would be back on by lunchtime - but despite repeated phone calls this dragged into the afternoon, then the evening.

It was not back on until 9.30pm, by which time staff had turned away around 43 customers from the door and 41 for delivery.

However, this was too late, Mr Islam said.

"By 10pm all the business we have is done, so reconnecting it just before 9.30pm is a bit pointless for us," he said.

"We had to turn customers away as we didn't have any gas supply.

"It was also a Friday night, at the end of the summer holidays, so we were hoping it would be a busy night - but this was devastating.

"People were so disappointed and it was so frustrating that they went to other places.

"It's unbelievable and unacceptable."

Mr Islam estimated Eastern Spice had lost £1,500 in the course of the evening through not being able to serve any food.

He is also concerned about the future impact on the business, with worried customers continuing to call the business three days after the incident checking it was open.

"These things get around so fast and people were still ringing us to check we are open.

"It's not just what happened on the night but also the effect for the future.

"If people go somewhere else to eat they might never come back again so we could have lost their business for good."