Takeaway boss to fight early closing
BUSINESSMAN Shazad Yaqoob will fight a decision to stop him opening his takeaway late at night after claiming the ruling could ruin him.
The 33-year-old must close his new shop, Chilli Jacks, at 11pm after Stoke-on-Trent City Council refused his application for a premises licence.
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HOURS BID: Shazad Yaqoob.
Shazad, who also has another branch of Chilli Jacks in Meir, has spent £40,000 refurbishing the Trinity Street outlet after signing a 15-year lease for the site.
Following the authority's licensing committee decision, Shazad, of Dresden, considered shelving plans to open the business but has since decided to run the takeaway under restricted hours.
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The father-of-three said: "We slowed down the refurbishment because of the decision. The budget has risen because of the work that we have had to carry out and so we can't delay on opening it any longer.
"I felt that no matter what I said to the council I wasn't going to convince them to let me have the licence.
"Not getting this licence could ruin me and a lifetime of work."
Shazad's application for a licence attracted opposition from Staffordshire Police who claimed an extra takeaway in Hanley would put a strain on their resources.
The businessman's original proposals asked for permission to open the takeaway until 5am.
Despite police advising the shop should open no later than 2am, the council threw the application out completely.
Without a premises license the takeaway must close at 11pm.
Shazad said: "You look at the amount of empty shops in Hanley and I have turned this one around but can't open it when I want to."
The takeaway is next door to Kebab Master and Subway, which are allowed to serve food until 5am and 4am respectively. Golden Palace – another Trinity Street fast-food outlet – can open until 5am.
Shazad's sister Samina Yaqoob, aged 28, who manages Meir News, said: "It is a family-run business and I am gobsmacked we didn't get the licence.
"We had agreed to 13 out of the 14 conditions the police put forward. The only one we didn't agree on is closing at 2am. We can't rely on passing trade as the roads are closed in the city centre at night. I don't see how the business can survive without the premises licence."
Shazad is hoping the reputation of the Chilli Jacks shop in Meir will help bring in trade to his new city centre branch.
He said: "I am also going to introduce piri-piri chicken to the menu."
A date for Shazad's appeal was due to be made at Stafford Magistrates Court today.
A spokesman for the city council said the authority was unable to comment on the appeal.
The takeaway will open on Monday, October 1. Opening hours will be 11.30am until 11pm daily. An introductory offer will see items reduced by 25 per cent until Thursday.
Comments
by shazadyaqoob
Thursday, October 04 2012, 3:23AM
“and thank u "Alberus" for ur kind words ! much appreciated”
by shazadyaqoob
Thursday, October 04 2012, 3:21AM
“lol ! i tell u speccy u make me laugh ! one sad man who enjoys making fun of ppl ! u keep on bout our hygiene ! dnt know why i am answering this but hey to get a saddo like u off my back i do anything ! we r open kitchen style takeaway ! the only one in stoke ! so we ave nofin to hide ! the rating we ave disputed and ave asked for another inspection ! and we r due a full refurbishment in january aswell ! i hope this gets u off my back and i pray to god u find a new hobby ! i could see u sitting there in one room flat on ur own with no one around to talk to ! seriously saddo u can borrow my friends ! and oh dont worry they r white aswell ! to me colour means nothing kiddo ! this is my final meesage to a idiot "sunshine" ! speccy lonely becky hehehehehehehehe bye and get a life and a job”
by Alberus
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 5:01PM
“I have only one comment to make...I wish this hard-working young businessman the very best of luck and urge him to ignore or better still keep laughing at the comments of the work-shy individuals on here trying to put him down. What have THEY acheived?????”
by Speccy9eyes
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 6:29AM
“Hey shazad
I see you're still avoiding answering what you're doing about the extremely poor hygiene rating that you have on your shop. A hygiene rating of 1 is the lowest you can get, so tell us shaz, what do you expect your new shop will get, or are you going to opt out of the scheme? A clean heart? It's a pity you don't have a clean shop.
I don't hate anyone sunshine, least of all you, in fact you don't even register any emotion, but your actions still sicken me. You say you're a big man? Pffft. And then you stand there squealing like a little girl because you messed up? What a silly little man........no boy........you are.
Are you sure there is no hate in your heart? Lol. I think you protest too much!”
by shazadyaqoob
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 9:55PM
“lol speccy ! u funny ! and got alot of hatred in u ! hahaha ! so much hatred will kill u ! i am a mellow person buddy ! u live once ! so chill ! and not getting into much arguement and really u not worth my time but just let u know i pay my taxes and national insurance and ave never signed benefits in my life ! but hey u just a racist lonely man who is just jealous ! colour means nothing idiot ! a good clean heart is a way forward ! so much hatred no good for u ! hahahhaa ! make me laugh ! low life scums like u dont bother me ! i am bigger man than u ! r u sure u aint using ur dads id to sign in and write comments lol”
by killaspam
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 6:34PM
“and stop the freaking menus coming through the door”
by Speccy9eyes
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 5:08PM
“@ shaz
You still haven't addressed the question of the poor hygiene mark given to your "establishment" have you. You think that by ignoring it, it will go away? You're serving "quality food"? Do you mean poor quality?
You say you are working for your family, in the right way,but I have learned to disregard what your ilk say, because from my experience truth is not a strong characteristic and I would bet that you and/or your family are claiming benefits.
As for myself, I am not the one crying like a girl in the Sentinel because you've made a huge mistake and want someone else to be accountable, another trait of your ilk, but I have always worked, provided for my family and never claimed benefits. AND I have always paid ALL my income tax, National Insurance etc. I'm sure, no, I'm certain that you can't say that, truthfully. Have you got two tills? Take a lot of your income in cash? Lol. You're a joke, a disgrace, now jog on , you should be at "work".”
by shazadyaqoob
Tuesday, October 02 2012, 3:55PM
“grey gutar ! i fully understand what u mean my friend and respect that ! and speccy mr funny man ! not even arguering with a idiot like u ! warren thx for ur support mate ! appreciated !
all i am trying to do is give quality food ! i wouldnt serve nothing that i wouldnt eat myself ! i prefer work for my money and provide for my family in the right way ! i am sure my speccy becky cant say that proudly”
by greyguitar
Monday, October 01 2012, 8:59AM
“@shazadyaqoob - "and regards to halal meat ! lol ! i dont see anything wrong with it" - well of course you wouldn't because you are Muslim. I on the other hand would prefer my meat to be killed in a humane way. Plus from time to time I like a ham and pineapple pizza or a bacon butty but of course I wouldn't want to offend you by asking for them. i.e I wouldn't expect you ignore your beliefs. See where I'm coming from?”
by Speccy9eyes
Sunday, September 30 2012, 3:20PM
“@shazadyaqoob,
What sort of a man looks for sympathy by standing outside a failed business rying like a little girl that it's everyone elses fault except his own? No, not much of a man are you? And there you go again, crying that someone is racist and how it's so wrong to have anything but sympathy for you, but of coiurse, I haven't even mentioned your race. Why would I? I'm just sickened by the sight of a grown man behaving like a schoolgirl becaus he hasn't hadit all his own way.Pathetic and you shouldbe ashamed, but yo won't be, becaus peope like you have no shame, do you?
I've also not even mentioned halal meat and as for being welcome, I doubt that I will bother, particularly as you failed to addressthe issue brought up by Kenny95. You know, the poor hygeine in your other shop - Hygeine Rating 1 is the lowest mark you can get. I can understand you wanting to open until 5.00am, that way your passing trade will be drunk enough to risk eating some of the "tasty" food you serve. Good strategy I suppose.”