Food swoop fails 22 firms

More than 20 businesses have failed Telford & Wrekin Council's new Scores on the Doors scheme to ensure high standards of food hygiene, it was revealed today.

Environmental health inspectors handed out "no star" rating to 22 companies after they made surprise visits to pubs, restaurants, takeaways and company canteens.

The premises were slated for their "general failure to comply with legal requirements and little or no appreciation of food safety".

The scores, which range from zero stars to the five star "excellent" rating, are designed to help consumers make an informed choice.

The website www.telford.gov.uk/scoresonthedoors lists businesses assessed so far through inspections from December with 22 receiving no stars (very poor), the same number getting one star (inadequate); 23 gaining two stars (adequate); 53 gaining three stars (good); 29 gaining four stars (very good); 14 gaining five stars (excellent).

Steve Kaye, landlord of The Bucks Head Hotel at Long Lane, near Wellington, which received five stars, said: "If you have got nothing to hide you should not fear them coming."

Norma Urey, who owns the Compasses Inn, Oakengates, with partner Mark Jenkins, said: "This scheme is superb. It gives us the opportunity to show off all the hard work we have done."

Councillor Jacqui Seymour, cabinet member for adult and consumer care, said: "We hope businesses will see this as an opportunity to promote their businesses rather than a threat."

Below are the scores as they stood on June 11, 2008. For further, updated information go to www.telford.gov.uk/scoresonthedoors

Five stars

The Compasses Inn, Oakengates, Telford; Bucks Head Hotel, Long Lane, Telford.

Four stars

The Lakeside Centre/The Coffee Shop, Stirchley; Station Hotel, Jackfield; Debenhams Restaurant, Telford Shopping Centre; Victorian Fryer, Trench; The Frogmeadow Community Cafe, Woodside; Costa Coffee, Telford Shopping Centre; Take 10, Telford Shopping Centre; The Woolpack, Shawbirch.

Three stars

Spice Land, Wellington; The New Dilrai, Oakengates; Long Lane Cafe, Telford; Subway, Wellington; Spencer's Cafe, Telford Town Centre; Kookery Nook cafe, Madeley; Smithfield Inn, Wellington; McDonalds, Telford Shopping Centre; Ho Mei Village Cantonese Restaurant, Wellington; Cuckoo Oak, Telford; The Platelayer Cafe, Wellington; Station Inn, Dawley; The Pheasant Inn, Shawbirch; The Meadow Inn, Coalbrookdale; Euston Way Beefeater, Telford; The Boat Inn, Jackfield; The Flying Fish, Dawley; Malt Shovel Inn; Jungleland Telford Ltd, Hadley; Mishu Tandoori, Madeley; The Wickets Inn, Wellington; Pondicherry, Ironbridge.

Two stars

Peppers Balti Restaurant and Takeaway, Trench; Trench Lock Diner, Trench Lock; The Coffee Pot, Dawley; Friendly Fryer, Madeley; Mr Ma Chinese Takeaway, Oakengates; Sail Fish Bar, Hollinswood; The Hare & Hounds, Oakengates; Combinations, Newport; Muxton Fish Bar, Muxton; The Three Fishes Coffee Shop, Newport; Aftab Balti Restaurant, Ironbridge; Oasis Fish Bar, Donnington.

One star

Pizza Hut, Old Park; Black Horse, Wellington; Tiger Bowl Chinese Takeaway, Wellington; Eastern Balti, Wellington; The Munch Box, Newport; Golden Gate, Madeley; Lai Komal, Oakengates; The Lotus House Chinese Restaurant, Dawley; Malinslee Fish Bar, Dawley; Star Pizza and Kebab, Newport; Tasty Fried Chicken, Oakengates; Hussain Exotics, Madeley; China City, Dawley; The Haygate, Wellington; Thiaras Fish Bar, Hadley; Priorslee Fish Bar, Priorslee; Bengal Spice, Dawley; Brookside Fish Bar, Brookside.

No stars

Sidoli, Telford Shopping Centre; The Corner House, Madeley; Newport Kebab House, Newport; Peking House, Newport; Mischa's Restaurant, Newport; Fish Inn, Oakengates; Golden Fryer, Oakengates; Master Wok, Fourth Avenue, Ketley Bank; The Last Inn, Church Aston; Golden House Chinese Takeaway, Wellington; Marble Chinese Takeaway, Muxton; Tin Tin Cantonese Restaurant, Donnington; Bengal Express, Hadley; The Huntsman, Little Wenlock; Sofia's, Wellington; Red House, Lilleshall.

By Lisa Rowley