The biggest takeaway kitchen in Britain has closed to the public – but pledged £10,000 of free food to frontline heroes.
Key workers and volunteers will be among those receiving the food from award-winning Hamilton restaurant Mushtaqs.
Staff have also been sent home and will be getting 100 per cent of their wages.
Chef director Ajmal Mushtaq said: “Mushtaqs Takeaway in Hamilton is closed until further notice.”
He added: “We take our customer and team safety very seriously and have decided to close.
“The team will get 100 per Cent of their pay until we re-open.
“Despite having the biggest takeaway kitchen in Britain, and having very stringent controls around distancing and isolated work stations, I am not willing to take any risks with the wellbeing of our team – nothing is worth more than the health of my team.
“I am saddened to see so many businesses still open that have total disregard for the safety of their team and who do not have the necessary safety measures in place."
Last month, the restaurant banned cash payments — and introduced a dedicated doorman — in an attempt to prevent coronavirus spreading.
But now the decision has been made to close the kitchen during the pandemic.
Ajmal added: “We need to make sure we are doing every single thing possible to ensure staff safety and customer safety, and if that means closing the business, that means closing the business.
“The team have been sent home and they have been instructed to stay at home until we re-open and in the meantime they are going to get 100 per cent of their wages.
“Last week we made a promise to the community, the frontline workers, the local heroes, the volunteers, the volunteer groups, that we’re going to give them £10,000 worth of free food from Mushtaqs. That promise still stands.”
Mushtaq’s was crowned Best Takeaway in Scotland 2019 at the Asian Curry Awards, beating off competition from thousands of takeaways.
Owner Ajmal was also crowned Entrepreneur of the Year at the awards bash in London four months ago.
