**Cherished Oxfordshire Curry Restaurant Shuts Amid Odour Complaints and Mounting Costs**
A beloved Bangladeshi curry restaurant in Wheatley, Oxfordshire, has reluctantly announced its closure after more than two decades of serving the local community, citing insurmountable challenges following a complaint about the scent of curry wafting from its premises.
Cinnamons Restaurant, a neighbourhood staple since 2000, found itself at the centre of an unusual dispute after a member of the public raised concerns about “curry odours” in 2021. The complaint led South Oxfordshire District Council to send environmental health officers to investigate, with officials ultimately upholding the concern as a statutory nuisance. This marked a significant turning point for the family-run business.
In response to the council’s findings, the restaurant undertook major investments, spending an estimated £35,000 on an upgraded extractor fan system meant to combat the persistent odour. Despite their efforts, the newly installed ventilation failed to meet the council’s requirements, and a second complaint led to another investigation. The authorities subsequently concluded that Cinnamons’ ventilation remained inadequate.
Faced with a mounting list of demands, the restaurant was served an abatement notice that called for yet another costly ventilation overhaul, this time projected by owners to cost as much as £50,000. With business income still reeling from the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and footfall yet to recover, the grim reality set in: the business simply could not afford the extensive improvements demanded.
Legal proceedings soon followed, with Cinnamons pleading guilty to breaching environmental health rules at Oxford Magistrates’ Court in October 2024. The restaurant was handed a fine and ordered to pay full legal costs—a sum totalling £25,000, including £11,000 fine, £12,000 costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge. South Oxfordshire District Council stressed that they are required by law to act against statutory nuisances and prosecute where abatement notices are not observed.
Beyond the financial toll, the human cost also weighs heavily on the owners. “The village wants the restaurant to stay, otherwise we would have closed before paying the £25,000 fine,” said Shirazul Hoque, a member of the family operating Cinnamons. Expressing distress, he added: “It’s hurtful to have our cuisine described as producing obnoxious odours… All our employees have families and the chefs who live above the restaurant will be made homeless – it’s a big punch in the gut.”
The closure means the loss of 10 jobs and, for some staff who reside above the restaurant, the threat of homelessness. As a gesture of thanks to loyal customers, Cinnamons has pledged to serve free meals on its final day of trading, Sunday, 15th June. “It’s our way of showing appreciation for all the support during these challenging few years,” Hoque added.
Many in Wheatley have voiced their sadness at the closure of what they describe as a pivotal local eatery. The restaurant has received various accolades over the years, including a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice award in 2021, reflecting its popularity and the affection in which it was held.
Shirazul Hoque points to the experience as a cautionary tale for other restaurateurs. He advises competitors to research how environmental health authorities operate and to thoroughly understand regulators’ expectations and appeal processes. Lessons learnt from this episode, he says, could help others avoid a similar fate.
For their part, council representatives have emphasised that their approach is dictated by statutory obligation. “We always aim to advise and support businesses on how they can resolve issues,” read a council statement. “However, if abatement measures are not introduced and repeated notices are breached, we have no option but to prosecute.”
With legal wrangling ongoing, South Oxfordshire District Council declined to comment further, reiterating that their responsibility is to the broader community as well as to upholding public health standards. For Cinnamons and its devoted patrons, the closure marks the end of an era—a sobering reminder of the pressures small independent businesses often face behind the scenes.