On 3 Jun 2017 at 7:14pm Galloping Gourmet wrote:
The Food Standards Agency recently released a list of restaurants, takeaways and food outlets with poor hygiene standards.
The ratings are from Zero to 5 star
Zero = urgent improvement necessary
One star = major improvement necessary
...and so on.
There are a number of places in Lewes with one star and you may be suprised by who some of them are:
Spice Merchant
Mount Harry Stores
Charcoal Grill
Backyard Cafe
Castle Sandwich Bar
Aqua (very surprised at this last entry)
So definitely a case of food for thought.
Have a look for yourselves...
Check it out here »
On 3 Jun 2017 at 7:46pm Gregory wrote:
I'm not at all surprised at Aqua. Great interior, apart from acoustics, waiting staff really nice, but, and a big but, have only been four times and on two of these occasions the food was inedible. Have never experienced such poor quality. Such a shame, but looking forward new restaurant openings, and I understand a few are on the cards. Lewes deserves far better!
On 3 Jun 2017 at 8:36pm Old Malling wrote:
I'm shocked that the Charcoal Grill is included. Quality dining. At least, it seemed pretty good on Friday night after 10 pints of Harvey's......
On 3 Jun 2017 at 8:49pm Bbq bill wrote:
Lewes poultry blimey .I won't be buying any meat from there in future
On 3 Jun 2017 at 9:04pm Harry wrote:
Pretty sure Spice Merchant was given one star in the last survey published as well.
On 3 Jun 2017 at 9:21pm Pedro wrote:
Aqua!! The aqua-bots will be on full alert and putting forward their version.
On 3 Jun 2017 at 10:12pm Gregory wrote:
Don't worry, they are far too busy looking for an Assistant Manager and Chef de Partie on the Jobs section of the forum.
At least they realise their failings and are looking to improve.
On 3 Jun 2017 at 11:36pm Drug lord wrote:
They should do a similar scheme for drug dealers
On 4 Jun 2017 at 1:01am Aloe wrote:
Backyard Cafe will probably still have the rating attached to them from the Old needlemakers cafe. If you read that link you attached, it says June of last year that it was rated. Backyard Cafe only opened last month. They have completely re-vamped the inside, so their rating should be higher. And no, I do not work for them, or know them. I just don't like people wildly stating incorrect stats. I believe due to the fact that the building is so old, a 5 rating may not be possible.
On 4 Jun 2017 at 6:55am Lewes bloke. wrote:
I spoke to someone about these ratings last year and they said the the criteria was unbelievably picky. For example, your establishment may be the cleanest, most hygenic place on the planet with everything being 5 star....but if you mis-spell something such as an item of food that you are recording, you're immediately given 1 star. I hope someone can come along and clarify this.
On 4 Jun 2017 at 7:07am Another B and B lady wrote:
Yes, Lewes Bloke's right. Some odd criteria to get the 5 stars such as having to have a hygiene cert. which you have to renew every year @ £70 plus. This requires you to spend a day being told common sense stuff and passing a very basic exam at the end. It's been basically the same for years and seems a waste of time and money. In fact the Council offered a morning's group talk at a reduced rate the last time I did it. I don't read too much into the star ratings when I see them although only being awarded one out of five doesn't seem great. (And yes I do have a 5...)
On 4 Jun 2017 at 7:20am Another Lewes Bloke wrote:
They may be picky but it's in the interest of the consumer. I also think an establishment would not "require major improvement" because of a spelling mistake !
From the fsa website:
At the inspection, the officer will check:
how hygienically the food is handled – how it is prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored the condition of the structure of the buildings – the cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities how the business manages what it does to make sure food is safe and so that the officer can be confident standards will be maintained in the future
Aloe - not a case of " wildly stating incorrect stats" or the building being old. There are plenty of businesses around the area with older buildings that have higher ratings so that is no excuse. If the new owner of said etablishment has "revamped" the place then no doubt an fsa inspection tor will be following up to ensure the major improvements required have been completed and will adjust the rating accordingly...
On 4 Jun 2017 at 10:50am Aloe wrote:
Yes of course there are older buildings with its high ratings, but you even said yourself... "the condition of the structure of the buildings.." Needlemakers building is old, and it's something the cafe can't change. LDC deal with food ratings and it can take a while for them to do an inspection after someone registers their food business.
On 4 Jun 2017 at 11:14am Gourmet wrote:
The EHO ratings also depend on which inspector it is. An establishment went from 5 stars to 1 star but with no changes in procedure just a different inspector!
On 4 Jun 2017 at 3:19pm Delilah Smith wrote:
Might be worth pointing out that the number of Trading Standards, Hygiene inspectors and Health and Safety officers available to do random checks on any given establishment, dodgy or otherwise has been shredded thanks to tory cuts to public services. I do wonder why anyone would eat out without first checking on local knowledge and recommendations rather than a table of dubious results.
On 4 Jun 2017 at 4:04pm Another Lewes Bloke wrote:
Of course you just had to add litics to an otherwise reasonable set of posts.
Nice one Delia you utter *rsehole.....
On 4 Jun 2017 at 5:43pm B&B landlady wrote:
I had a chat with someone - a chef - who'd recently left Aqua. That person said the hygiene standards were really bad so I wasn't surprised to see the rating. It's pretty shocking in a brand new restaurant.
(I also have a 5* rating, but I did the course online in about 45 mins...!)
On 4 Jun 2017 at 9:47pm shame wrote:
Shame about the spice merchant, I like the food there 
On 5 Jun 2017 at 5:57am Landporter wrote:
Me too...and it won't put me off going there either.
On 5 Jun 2017 at 10:28am Aqua Mgmt wrote:
We would like to apologise to our dear friends in Lewes for this failing of service. Rest assured the duty manager on this day has been reprimanded and we are doing all we can to solve the situation. Please join us this weekend for 50% off all mains to say sorry.
Peace and love,
Aqua Management