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Christmas sinners: Kent's zero-rated food outlets to avoid this festive season

00:01, 25 November 2016

In the run-up to Christmas a lot of people like to eat out and enjoy themselves, but there are some places you might avoid when booking your festive feast.

Across the county, there are 17 restaurants, takeaways and stores rated zero on the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme - the lowest possible score for food safety and cleanliness.

This could mean cockroaches, mice infestations, mouldy surfaces and also, in some instances, sewage in food preparation areas.

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A zero rating means urgent improvement is required, according to the Food Standards Agency, which runs the national scheme.

For a zero rating to be issued, the premises raises serious concern - the rating does not come lightly.

Outlets visited also include food stores, which are added to this list.

Nollaig Hallihan, food safety team leader at Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, said: "There would have to be quite a few things wrong with the premises.

A zero rating means urgent improvement is needed. Picture: GettyImages
A zero rating means urgent improvement is needed. Picture: GettyImages

"They would have to have a very poor overall score, including food hygiene and safety issues, food storage issues, issues with cross contamination.

"They could have issues with the structure, in that the structure is in poor repair.

"They could have no hot water to the sinks or they might not have a food safety management system in place.

"No one thing on its own would make a premises zero rated, they would have to a combination of things wrong to make it a zero-rated premises."

Food outlets are rated from zero to five on the rating system. Picture: GettyImages
Food outlets are rated from zero to five on the rating system. Picture: GettyImages

A zero star rating may also be given if, for example, a boiler is broken - yet a business must wait until the next inspection to have the rating updated, once the problem has been dealt with.

Despite the Christmas season being notoriously busy, the food safety team leader doesn't think standards will slip.

"Businesses that have got a good food safety management system in place will consider the risks within their business for the Christmas period," said Ms Hallihan.

"They will have additional staff that potentially they would have trained, and if they have got good procedures and good practices then those good practices would continue.

"So I wouldn't be concerned that standards would slip leading up to Christmas."

The inspection itself is made up of three main elements - the hygiene of the food, the cleanliness of work surfaces and appliances, and how well management keeps cleaning records and acts on criticism.

Ms Hallihan explained the inspection process: "Inspections are generally unannounced. Officers will arrive at the premises when they're due for inspection and they will look at those three areas.

Zero is the lowest possible score for food hygiene and safety. Picture: GettyImages
Zero is the lowest possible score for food hygiene and safety. Picture: GettyImages

As well as the 17 businesses that scored zero, a further 159 need to clean up their act, having scored just one on the rating system.

But don't worry if you want to go for a better bite to eat - you can head to one of Kent's 10,729 food outlets.

Ms Hallihan said: "We can't compare standards across the years as we don't have that data available.

"However, I can say that in the Borough of Tunbridge Wells at the moment, we've got 97% of our businesses which are broadly compliant.

"Putting that in perspective means that there are 25 businesses out of a total of around 1,000 businesses in the borough where they're rated zero to two, so it's a very small proportion of businesses that fall below the standards that are required.

"As a result, the council are able to put resources to those businesses and provide them with a single point of contact to ensure that we can help them to raise their standards."

Despite providing people with a more informed choice on where to eat, displaying ratings is not yet mandatory in England, unlike in Wales and Northern Ireland.

But the Food Safety Agency would like to change this, and by the end of the year, a case is expected to be ready to present to ministers, the start of the legislative process.

Displaying ratings may become mandatory in England. Picture: GettyImages
Displaying ratings may become mandatory in England. Picture: GettyImages

It took about two years in Northern Ireland, so the same could be expected for England.

The Food Safety Agency said: "The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme helps people choose where to eat out by giving information about hygiene standards.

"It’s not easy to judge these standards on the appearance of the premises and even ‘high-end’ businesses can have issues with hygiene.

"The rating, which is based on an inspection by a food safety officer from a local authority, gives people an idea of what’s going on in the kitchen and the things they can’t see, like germs spread by bad hygiene practices.

"The scheme recognises good businesses and encourages poorer businesses to improve."

We publish the latest available data. Perfect Fried Chicken in Gillingham has been re-inspected since the report published by the FSA. Under new management, it has now been awarded a five star rating. We are happy to clarify this.

During the most recent inspection of Lashings Sports Bar & Restaurant, of Upper Stone Street, Maidstone, in December 2015, the kitchen was rented to a third party and under-going refurbishment.

Lashings has since been re-inspected (on 12/12/2016), and has now gained four stars in the ratings.Tandoori Nights, Ashford has since been re-inspected (on Thursday, November 24) under new ownership and has now scored five.

ONE STAR RATED ESTABLISHMENTSLAST INSPECTED
Poundstretcher Unit C2 East Kent Retail Park Westwood Road Broadstairs CT10 2RQ 06 June 2016
Blue Town Fish Bar 41 High Street Blue Town Sheerness Kent ME12 1RN 19 October 2016
Broad Ditch Farm Shop Broad Ditch Farm New Barn Road Southfleet Kent DA13 9PU 17 July 2015
Cross Keys The Cross Keys 236 - 238 St Johns Road Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 9XD 16 June 2015
Da Peppino Da Pepppino Restaurant 6 London Road Westerham KENT TN16 1BD 11 August 2016
Dial-A-Pizza Dial A Pizza 116 High Street Deal Kent CT14 6BB 12 November 2015
Dover Working Man's Club & Institute Jasper House London Road Dover Kent CT17 0SZ 02 November 2015
Dunton Green Social Club 159 London Road Dunton Green Sevenoaks Kent TN13 2TA 27 May 2016
Folkestone Tandoori Ground Floor Business Premises 33 Tontine Street Folkestone Kent CT20 1JT 14 October 2016
Garlinge Newsagents 54 High Street Garlinge Margate Kent CT9 5LW 27 January 2016
George & Dragon Five Oak Green Road Tudeley Tonbridge Kent TN11 0PW 13 October 2016
J S News 1 Heathwood Parade London Road Swanley KENT BR8 7HB 27 January 2015
Lal Sag 19 Crayford High Street Crayford Dartford Kent DA1 4HH 27 September 2016
Mr Peter 3 Bockhanger Court Belmont Road Kennington Kent TN24 9JJ 20 June 2016
NY Eleven N Eleven Y 48 - 50 Camden Road Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2QD 12 February 2016
Out Of Town Tackle Stones Garden Centre Halfway Road Minster-on-sea Kent ME12 3AA 27 July 2016
Pauls Mini Market Pauls Mini Mart 39 - 40 Craylands Lane Swanscombe Kent DA10 0LP 03 December 2014
Port Regis Montessori Nursery School Convent Road Broadstairs Kent CT10 3PT 08 July 2016
R T Doosa 39 The Hill Northfleet Gravesend Kent DA11 9EX 28 July 2016
Real Spice Unit 2 Jetty Road Warden Kent ME12 4NF 19 April 2016
Rusthall Cafe 70 Rusthall High Street Rusthall Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 8SG 10 August 2016
Sanjay's Cafe Sanju Cafe 81 St Johns Road Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent TN4 9TU 24 August 2016
Secret Garden Mersham Le Hatch Business Village Hythe Road Smeeth Kent TN25 6NH 14 July 2016
Shooting Box Day Nursery Shooting Box Broadoak Road Milstead Kent ME9 8AQ 06 October 2016
Shoreham Village School Breakfast And After School Club Church Street Shoreham Kent TN14 7SN 29 June 2016
Soprano Delicatessen Ltd 8 Dorset Street Sevenoaks KENT TN13 1LL 21 January 2016
Stop N Save 105 St James Road Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2HQ 28 August 2015
The Corner Shop 10 Birchwood Parade Woodside Drive Wilmington Kent DA2 7NJ 21 April 2016
Dover Castle 20 London Road Teynham Kent ME9 9QS 16 June 2016
The Elms Nursery Tendershoots Ltd 8 Richmond Road Ramsgate Kent CT11 9QP 24 October 2016
The Plough Basted Lane Borough Green Sevenoaks Kent TN15 8PS 20 June 2016
The Plough High Cross Road Ivy Hatch Sevenoaks Kent TN15 0NL 10 October 2016
The Salutation Accommodation and Restaurant Knightrider Street Sandwich Kent CT13 9EW 30 June 2016
The Snail Stone Street Seal KENT TN15 0LT 10 February 2016
The Two Brewers Maidstone Road Hadlow Tonbridge Kent TN11 0DN 30 March 2016
Tom Bell Traditional Fish & Chips 1 Station Parade London Road Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1DL 11 June 2015
Tony's Chippy 62 High Street Borough Green Sevenoaks Kent TN15 8BJ 07 June 2016
Tulip Cafe & Restaurant 8 Station Parade Station Road Sidcup Kent DA15 7DB 03 October 2016
Tunbridge Wells Retreat Smart & Simple Hotels 55 - 57 London Road Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1DS 20 June 2016
4 Continents Stores 3-5 Castle Road Chatham Kent 17 August 2015
Adelaide Farm Cafe Sandwich Road Hacklinge Kent CT14 0AT 18 August 2015
Beachside Stores 24 Jefferstone Lane St Marys Bay Kent TN29 0SA 05 May 2016
Belal Halal Meat 39 High Street Maidstone Kent ME14 1JH 06 January 2016
Belgian Cafe 98 Harbour Parade Ramsgate Kent CT11 8LP 08 June 2016
Bharath Spices 37 High Street Gillingham Kent ME7 1BQ 06 October 2015
Bon Bon (Medway) 63 Ingram Road Gillingham Kent ME7 1SD 21 September 2016
Bridge Street News 23 Bridge Street Dover Kent CT16 2LB 21 April 2015
Broadstairs Tandoori Restaurant 41 Albion Street Broadstairs Kent CT10 1NE 08 July 2016
Buffet Express 14 South Park Sevenoaks Kent TN13 1AN 18 July 2016
Cafe Taj 170-171 Parrock Street Gravesend Kent DA12 1ER 28 July 2016
Camden Food Bazaar 135 - 137 Camden Road Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 2RA 06 September 2016
Castle Inn Russell Street Dover Kent CT16 1PY 25 November 2015
Co Op Pioneer Store Hopeville Avenue Broadstairs Kent CT10 2TR 27 October 2016
Costcutter 22 Jefferstone Lane St Marys Bay Kent TN29 0SA 08 June 2015
06 September 2016 Dartford Grill 18 East Hill Dartford Kent DA1 1RY 06 July 2016
Delhi Club 73 Station Road Longfield Kent DA3 7QA 23 March 2016
deMart Global 14 High Street Gillingham Kent ME7 1BB 18 August 2015
Express Food Centre 3 High Street Gillingham Kent ME7 1BE 09 February 2015
FisFis Cash & Carry 38 Lowfield Street Dartford Kent DA1 1HD 08 May 2015
Fishermans Wharf Restaurant And Wine Bar Fishermans Wharf Sandwich Kent CT13 9RU 02 August 2016
Frydays Fish And Chips 9 Minster Road Minster-on-sea Kent ME12 3JD 04 February 2016
Happy House 2 Cross Street Maidstone Kent ME14 2SN 05 September 2016
Janith Fried Chicken 121 St Vincents Road Dartford Kent DA1 1XA 22 September 2016
Jenkins & Son 118 High Street Deal Kent CT14 6BB 23 February 2016
Kebab Express 6 Quarry Hill Parade Tonbridge Kent TN9 2HR 23 August 2016
Kent Mart - Rochester 212-214 Maidstone Road Rochester Kent ME1 3LP 24 May 2016
Kings Head 8 - 9 King Street Gravesend Kent DA12 2EB 17 November 2015
La Scala 19 High Street Dover Kent CT16 1DP 15 June 2016
Lashings 81 - 83 Upper Stone Street Maidstone Kent ME15 6HE 21 December 2015
Lau's Kitchen 1 Dartford Road Bexley Kent DA5 2BH 24 August 2016
Limehouse Thai Restaurant 327 High Street Rochester Kent ME1 1DA 08 October 2015
Little Farthingloe Farmshop ( and Bakery) Folkestone Road Dover Kent CT15 7AA 09 September 2015
Londis 37 Azalea Drive Swanley KENT BR8 8HS 05 January 2015
Londis 70 Toronto Road Gillingham Kent ME7 2EN 13 April 2015
Lucky Dragon 188 Rochester Road Gravesend Kent DA12 4TY 27 November 2015
M.M Cash and Carry 16 New Rents Ashford Kent TN23 1JJ 30 June 2016
Magic Wok Takeaway 173 East Street Sittingbourne Kent ME10 4BT 08 February 2016
Melting Pot 14 Buenos Ayres Margate Kent CT9 5AE 21 July 2016
Mill Inn 80 Mill Hill Deal Kent CT14 9ER 21 July 2016
Milton Off Licence 106 - 108 Milton Road Swanscombe Kent DA10 0LY 24 September 2015
Moonlight Cafe 23 Preston Street Faversham Kent ME13 8NZ 31 August 2016
Morley's 221A High Road Wilmington Kent DA2 7BU 19 August 2015
Ocean 2 4 Grove Hill Road Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1RZ 21 September 2015
Old Prince Of Wales 12 New Street Ashford Kent TN24 8UU 23 December 2015
Papps Fish Bar 1 Belgrave Road Margate Kent CT9 1XG 19 January 2016
Peggottys 81A High Street Rochester Kent ME1 1LX 12 July 2016
Pizza And Kebab 66 - 68 Leysdown Road Leysdown Kent ME12 4RE 01 March 2016
Pizza Go Go/China Go Go 310 Tonbridge Road Maidstone Kent ME16 8TG 10 February 2016
Plough And Harrow Dover Road Tilmanstone Kent CT14 0HX 09 June 2016
Poet's Corner Stores 104 Shakespeare Road Gillingham Kent ME7 5QJ 15 August 2016
Prince of India 23 Risborough Lane Folkestone Kent CT19 4JH 11 September 2015
Regans Bar Thong Lane Gravesend Kent DA12 4LG 26 October 2016
Resul Premier Convenience Store 18 Cowper Road Margate Kent CT9 1SX 08 July 2015
Rileys 48 Green Street Gillingham Kent ME7 1XA 22 April 2015
Rose And Crown Otford Lane Halstead KENT TN14 7EA 18 November 2015
Rose Inn Faversham Road Kennington Kent TN24 9AJ 31 August 2016
Rossetti Lodge 3 Sea View Road Birchington Kent CT7 9LB 28 September 2015
Saffron Exotic Indian Cuisine 13 Harbour Street Ramsgate Kent CT11 8HA 18 October 2016
Seeafedo 18 Marine Terrace Margate Kent CT9 1XJ 14 July 2015
Shipa Tandoori 113-115 Canterbury Street Gillingham Kent ME7 5TS 29 January 2016
Shurlock Stores 38 Shurlock Avenue Swanley Kent BR8 7ST 05 August 2015
Sir Robert Peel Convenience Store 31-33 Skinner Street Chatham Kent ME4 5RQ 27 September 2016
Subway 100 High Street Rochester Kent ME1 1JT 21 June 2016
Sun Pier Chinese Takeaway 20 High Street Chatham Kent ME4 4EP 25 March 2015
Sutton At Hone Wine Cellars 210 Main Road Sutton-At-Hone Kent DA4 9HP 12 May 2015
Swanley Produce And Wine Store 11 - 13 Lynden Way Swanley KENT BR8 7DN 04 August 2015
Tandoori Nights 9 Torrington Road Ashford Kent TN23 7TF 03 November 2015
The Arch Arch No 9 Military Road Ramsgate Kent CT11 9LG 07 September 2016
The Co-operative 285 London Road Stone Kent DA9 9DA 01 July 2016
The Cock Inn Shoreham Lane Halstead KENT TN14 7DD 08 February 2016
The Cod Father 15 High Street Ashford Kent TN24 8TH 17 October 2016
The Fish Inn 30 Cambourne Avenue Westgate On Sea Kent CT8 8NA 26 April 2016
The Flying Horse Wye Road Boughton Aluph Kent TN25 4HH 03 November 2015
The Freewheel Head Hill Road Graveney Kent ME13 9DE 15 December 2015
The Haven 20A King Street Sandwich Kent CT13 9BT 24 May 2016
The Hide Out 70 Spital Street Dartford Kent DA1 2DT 10 August 2016
The Padwell Arms Stone Street Seal KENT TN15 0LQ 07 June 2016
The Queens Head High Street Sutton Valence Kent ME17 3AG 04 March 2016
Tops Pizza 27 Lower Stone Street Maidstone Kent ME15 6LH 20 September 2016
Twin Dragon 80 Canterbury Road Folkestone Kent CT19 5NN 20 October 2015
Two Cities 106 High Street Rochester Kent ME1 1JT 01 December 2015
Watling Convenience Store 253 Watling Street Dartford Kent DA2 6EG 16 December 2015
White Cliffs Holiday Hostel 57-58 East Cliff Dover Kent CT16 1LS 02 September 2016
Wilmington Village Store 221 High Road Wilmington Kent DA2 7BU 19 August 2015
Wok Kitchen Chinese Cuisine 40 Union Street Maidstone Kent ME14 1ED 02 March 2016
Wok U Like 49 Sandling Road Maidstone Kent ME14 2RH

12 May 2016

All ratings correct as of 5pm on Thursday, November 24, according to the Food Standards Agency.

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