Loyal customers support Tatyan's restaurant (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Loyal customers support Tatyan's restaurant

LOYAL customers have rallied round to support troubled Cirencester restaurant Tatyan's.

Last week, owner Tatyan Cheung was fined £9,750 and ordered to pay £2,300 costs after admitting 13 breaches of food hygiene regulations.

Council inspectors found severe health risks during a visit to the Chinese restaurant in Castle Street, Cirencester in September.

These included evidence of raw sewage in the kitchen area, rods used to clear drains being stored next to defrosting meat, cooked meats at risk of contamination and a general lack of cleanliness.

The hearing at Cirencester Magistrates' Court generated a great deal of press interest.

But Mr Cheung told the Standard that since then, he had received letters and telephone calls from customers offering their support.

"Me and my staff much appreciate their support at this time of need," he said.

"Some customers who had booked tables rang up to cancel after the press reports, but when I explained that the offences occurred in September, most were happy to keep their tables.

"We had four cancellations, mostly from people who had children."

Mr Cheung, who employs four people in Cirencester, said he was now concentrating on building up the business.

"There is no question of us not carrying on in Cirencester," he said.

"It's time for us to focus ourselves, and I'm sure we will take this opportunity to do better in the future."

Part of the premises was closed following the inspection in September while urgent remedial work was carried out.

Since then, inspections have shown that the premises meet all health regulations.