AN Indian restaurant at the centre of a row about hygiene ratings has been dealt a further blow after inspectors gave them just two out of five following their latest visit.

The new team behind The Burj at Wanborough told the Adver in October that they were hoping for “at least four, if not five stars” at their next inspection.

But their latest score, published last week, suggests that those hopes may have been overly optimistic.

Rather than reaching for the top of the assessment scale, the restaurant was told improvement was still necessary.

Inspectors from Swindon Borough Council rated The Burj’s food hygiene and safety standard as ‘poor’ which means there was “some major non-compliance with statutory obligations, with more effort required to prevent a fall in standards.”

The restaurant’s structural compliance was rated as ‘good’ but inspectors reported that they only had ‘some’ confidence in the management.

The Burj was previously inspected in April before being taken over by new owners.

On that occasion they received the dreaded zero from inspectors.

The new management were dismayed to learn that despite splashing out on a full kitchen refurbishment and installing a brand new team, the zero rating had stayed on the Food Standards Agency website.

They say the old score cost them many bookings and put their ability to pay their staff’s wages in doubt. The most recent inspection was their big chance to overcome those issues.

While a score of just two might come as a bitter disappointment to many restaurants, the new owner of The Burj is staying defiant.

Swapan Roy said: “We certainly hoped to score more than this but it is better than having a zero.

“But to be honest with you I don’t think we are any less than five stars here – we have made lots of changes in the kitchen and the front of house.

“This is the feedback we are getting from customers too, they are very happy with how we are.”

Mr Roy said he had even offered to show some customers around his kitchens after they expressed concern about the zero rating.

“I always say to them I am happy to take them for a look round, we have a new kitchen and we are doing things the right way.

“The inspectors said we could ask for them to come again and regrade but we said we didn’t want that – but I am sure that next time they come we will score higher.”