A popular dining establishment in Burslem has announced it will cease all takeaway delivery services due to overwhelming demand. The Dirty Diner, located on Waterloo Road and operating for more than three years, has faced challenges in managing the volume of takeaway orders, prompting the change in service.

Shane Khosa, director of The Dirty Diner, which also runs a second outlet on Lonsdale Street in Stoke, explained that the decision was made to preserve food quality and address customer complaints regarding delayed delivery times. Despite employing a team of over 20 people and extensive efforts over the past five years, the diner has been unable to maintain delivery standards.

“As much as deliveries have contributed significantly to our business, continuing them would compromise the quality that our customers expect,” Khosa said. “Our biggest and most consistent complaint has always been about our delivery times. Therefore, I’ve decided to change to restaurant, collection, and walk-ins only.”

Under the new operational model, The Dirty Diner will focus solely on in-restaurant dining, walk-in customers, and orders for collection, with online reservations and weekend bookings suspended. Khosa acknowledged that this shift could result in losing up to 80 percent of the business’s revenue but expressed optimism about the future.

“This is a really risky move, but I’m excited about this new chapter,” he added.

The adjustment comes as a response to balancing growing customer demand with a commitment to quality, a challenge that many food service businesses face. The Dirty Diner’s management hopes this transition will improve customer experience and operational sustainability moving forward.