A RESTAURATEUR has retired after serving customers for 37 years.

Din Mohammed took over his family’s Indian restaurant on George Street, Brighton, at the tender age of 16, in 1977.

Along with his wife Juliana, he has run Karims, on Blatchington Road, Hove, since 1987.

When he first started out, restaurants would stay open until the early hours of the morning and Din would have to chase drunks and undesirables who had run away without paying.

He said: “I’ve seen it all, a lot has changed.

“You didn’t get nice people in Indian restaurants in those days.

“Youngsters used to come in late after pubs closed and do a runner. You’d have to chase them and call the police all the time.

“One chap who came for dinner tried to do a runner even though he had a broken leg and cast.

“Back in 1984 we were the first to shut early and put an electronic buzz lock in.

“After that the undesirables left and it was booming with families.”

Karims was the first to start the home delivery service in 1988 and also the first to introduce the balti to Sussex in 1996.

After being unable to sell the business as a restaurant, the couple are converting the site for residential use.

Din said: “It’s a shame no banks are giving anyone any money to buy it, because it’s a lovely restaurant.

“I think the banks are depressing the market by not lending to small businesses that need help.”

Din and Juliana plan to move abroad to a warmer country and enjoy a well-deserved retirement.