STAFF at an Indian takeaway and restaurant were horrified when they dropped from five star to one star in their last hygiene inspection.

But staff have gone “over and beyond” their requirements to pull themselves back up to the top rating in just a matter of days.

Hove Tandoori in Church Road received an unexpected visit from a Brighton and Hove City Council environmental health officer.

It was given one star for food hygiene standards due to issues including misplaced books about fridge instructions and allergens.

Head chef Muhammad Ali Kham, 47, known as “Apom” has worked at Hove Tandoori for nine and a half years.

He said he was shocked when the rating was revealed.

He said: “I was so surprised when I heard that we went from five stars to one just like that. We are definitely five star standard.

“The day the inspector visited, the then head chef had got rid of staff on that day and the deep clean in the kitchen hadn’t been finished.

“I was off but when I came into find the kitchen in the way it was I asked him why he didn’t call me to come in and help.

“It’s unfortunate the timing of the visit but it’s just the way it is. Now that I am the new head chef I will keep us at the five star level always. We won’t even go down to four stars now that I am in charge.”

The previous head chef was sacked the day the one star rating was given.

Owner Shofi Ahmad, 50, said Apom, even when he held the position as second chef, was always the man who kept the restaurant in its five star place.

He was shocked and embarrassed with the result.

He said: “It was my 50th birthday on May 26 when the inspector, who turned up unannounced, said our restaurant was one star.

“We were all shocked. I had birthday messages, but with ‘what is this about the one star’ written at the end.

“The inspector turned up at about 11.15am, even though the restaurant opens after 12, and no one was here to greet them.

“Our manager was doing a pilgrimage in Mecca and Apom was off. It was really bad timing.

“We have corrected what they asked us to do and the inspector even said when she last came in to look at the restaurant and give us five stars that she wanted to give us six because we had gone over and beyond what was asked of us.”

Shofi had to pay £150 to the council for it to issue the second rating.

He said: “I just paid it on the day there and then when she asked because this place is my baby, it matters so much to me and to the staff that work here.”