Forum Topic

Scores on the doors

Worth having a quick glance through, possibly have a look at your favourite local restaurant. Think there may be a few surprises! Obviously the big chains are all in the five star region however some of our local businesses are not up to scratch.

Stephen Neill ● 5048d11 Comments

For information: businesses do not pre-warning about inspections, and yes unfortunatley it is a snap shot, but usually a good reflection of day to day problems.There is no reason why small businesses cannot get 5 stars and you will see plenty of them about.Businesses get scored on 3 criteria1. The condition of the structure, the ability to keep it clean and whether they are or not2. Practices- are they washing their hands, wearing protective clothing, storing raw meat below cooked meat..the list goes onand 3. Confidence in management and procedures. THis includes the history of the premises, have they demonstrated continuous compliance, have they got paperwork to back up practices eg pest control records, training records, temperature checks, cleaning schedule. The law does not specify which records they must keep but it is up to them to demonstrate due diligence.I know the old system Ealing used (I don't work for them), was very much out of date, but records now should be a true reflection.

Rachel W ● 5040d

"Exactly! I would imagine the paperwork and red tape involved would make it difficult for small independent restaurants to keep up, it doesn't necessarily follow that their premises are unhygienic or their food dangerous. Does it?"Unfortunately it often goes hand in hand.ie... if you're not doing a 20 sec job by recording your daily fridge/frezzer temps in a log, as required,.....you're almost certainly not looking/checking temps.If you're not bother about a 10 sec job of signing a training register, you are almost certainly not carrying out basic food hygiene training.

Nick Jenkins ● 5040d

No. It is of course only a 'snapshot' of an inspection on the day (I don't know if they get notice, I hope not).Given how much emphasis is placed on standards it has to be in the interests of even the smallest independent to 'get all their ducks in a row' and score as highly as possible.

Nigel Brooks ● 5040d

Exactly! I would imagine the paperwork and red tape involved would make it difficult for small independent restaurants to keep up, it doesn't necessarily follow that their premises are unhygienic or their food dangerous. Does it?

Milena Vincic ● 5040d

A bit like OFSTED then :-)

Nigel Brooks ● 5040d

Aren't these scores averaged from 3 or 4 categories that include not just how clean the premises are but procedures, record keeping etc. Presumably there are restaurants that are spotless and familiar with basic common sense food hygiene that don't document everything and so score badly. Others document everything but don't actually do it?

Milena Vincic ● 5041d

There seems to be an 'inverse square law' operating here.The lower the standard the more of their damned leaflets I get through my letterbox :-)Interestingly, my local Chinese takeaway which always, despite to my certain knowledge over the twenty years that I have used it been spotlessly clean, scored badly ( no stars) now gets five stars under the new scheme.The once wonderful Spicy King (one star) on The Avenue -now the truly awful when I tried it Spicy Avenue - now scores two stars.Monty's in south Ealing scores one star. The kitchen is spotless and I have never ever heard of problems there. The same for Cardamom on Northfields.The New Leaf in Ealing (see other threads) scores four stars.Go figure.

Nigel Brooks ● 5041d

Rachel, you've broken my heart (but helped my bank balance!)Pretty much all the establishments I love to eat at score terribly, which explains for me the odd occassion where you get an upset stomach - I am having a drastic re-think of where I eat from this moment on. More home cooked food and less take aways...

Bud Richards ● 5041d

The council no longer use the scores on the doors website but use a national food hygiene rating scheme. So for up to date information on inspection ratings visit http://ratings.food.gov.uk/search/en-GB?refla=IaF9unN08vE%3d&sm=1

Rachel W ● 5043d

The problem is that it's not only the chicken shops and Curry houses scoring low. Some of dealings finer restaurants and coffee shops are falling way below the mark

Stephen Neill ● 5047d

Only WHEN or IF they finally make it compulsory to show these scores on the front of premises ......will illegal and potentially dangerous places bother operating within the law.

Nick Jenkins ● 5047d