THE owners of two of Bolton’s most popular food outlets have given a mixed reaction to a pledge to create a post-Brexit immigration policy that puts business first.

They spoke out after the British Takeaway Campaign said the sector would be ‘heartened’ by Home Secretary Amber Rudd’s promise to deliver a system that continues to welcome those who contribute to the country’s prosperity.

But Nurul Meah, manager of The Royal Balti House, in Farnworth, said he was far from reassured by the minister’s comments.

Mr Meah’s staff are all of Bangladeshi origin, but five of his full time workers came to the the UK via Spain or Italy as EU citizens.

He said changes to the immigration rules brought in two years ago that stopped new students at publicly funded colleges working, had already affected his business.

And he expected that it would be a struggle to find the right staff in future, once Brexit is finalised.

He said: “It won’t be okay, because they will tighten things up, we knew that when Brexit was voted for that this was going to happen.

“Before we thought it might not be that harsh but now we know that it is coming.

“We expect there will be restrictions, we will have to find alternatives, because I think they will tighten immigration even more. There will be fewer people coming to this country and settling down like they do now.

“In future fewer people will be able come in and we will have to find alternatives.”

He added that finding skilled kitchen staff was his biggest worry.

He said: “We will have a problem with the chefs and, they’re the main people, the heart of the business. That will be a big problem, because skilled staff are now very, very difficult to find and it will be even more difficult in the future.”

But Tasos Pattichis, owner of Olympus Fish and Chip restaurant and takeaway, in Great Moor Street, Bolton town centre, had a less gloomy take on post-Brexit prospects for his business.

Mr Pattichis told The Bolton News: “The Government is not sure what’s going to happen and are leaving it a little bit vague, maybe they are trying to soften the blow a bit.

“But the reality is there’s no problem with immigration as long as we can bring in people if they are needed for a specific job — whether it’s high-level like doctors and dentists, or the for the service industry workforce, needed in takeaways and restaurants.

“If people are needed from abroad it would be foolish if we didn’t bring people in to fill those roles.”

Mr Pattichis said his workforce is split 60/40 in favour of UK-born workers and he employs staff from Poland, Bosnia and Turkey.

But he stressed that the local workforce was the key to successful businesses — and towns.

He said: “The most important thing in each town and city is in the country is the existing people that have been here a long time. The priority, really, should be for the local population “There’s no point bring people from abroad here when we already have the workforce of individuals to take the roles.

“If you keep a lot of people working in Bolton, they will spend the money in the town and local businesses and people will use that money to create expansion programme, so the money goes round and round in the town.”

Mr Pattichis was also upbeat about the country’s future in a post-Brexit world.

He added: “England is a powerful, strong country and has still got a great name — a brilliant name — and, let me tell you, Europe hates to see England leaving because it’s a powerful player.”

The Royal Balti House, in Farnworth, has been shortlisted for Best Restaurant in the North West and Best Marketing Campaign at this year’s English Curry Awards. And employee, Anwar Hussain, is also in the running for the Chef of the Year gong.